Directive 2008/50/EC, or the Ambient Air Quality Directive, is an EU directive which limits sulphur dioxide, NO<sub>2</sub> and other oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), lead, benzene and carbon monoxide concentrations from 2010. Hourly average concentrations of NO<sub>2</sub> are limited to 200 üg/m<sup>3</sup> and yearly average concentrations to 40 üg/m<sup>3</sup>. several EU member states are being sued for violating the limits: France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Germany.
Directives 96/62/EC, 1999/30/EC, 2000/69/EC and 2002/3/EC were repealed by this directive, with effect from 11 June 2010.
On 15 February 2018, five member countries were urged to safeguard public health.
On 22 February 2018, Poland was found guilty of violating the emission limits in the Radom, Pruszków-à »yrardów and KÃÂdzierzyn-Koà ºle and Ostrów-KÃÂpno districts during the eight-year period from 2007 to 2015.