Air stress and air quality indices

Abstract

Against the background of the growing demand for indices suited to assess the integral air quality that is not restricted to a single air pollutant, formulations for statistical air stress indices and an impact-related air quality index (DAQx) are presented. Their sensitivity depending on emission and air mass exchange conditions is investigated by test calculations based on air pollution data from three different sites in southwest Germany characterised by different air pollution levels and one site (Szeged) in southern Hungary with a comparatively high air pollution level. The results can be explained by methodical characteristics of the indices and the local emission situation.