Air quality measurement results in Bavel known

Research by the Province of North Brabant shows that air quality in Bavel remains within the current legal EU limit values. Significant contributions of polluting fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are measured from the direction of the A27 motorway and the St-Annabosch junction. This does not apply to the A58 motorway. There is no question of benzene from environmental sources. The World Health Organization (WHO) advisory values for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are exceeded, but measured values for fine particulate matter (PM10) remain below the WHO advisory values.

One of the two provincial mobile measuring stations was located in Bavel, municipality of Breda, from January 9 to December 21, 2025. It measured the presence of polluting substances fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and benzene in the living environment.

Development of new residential neighborhoods

The application for the placement of the measuring station was a collaboration between the residents of Bavel, represented by the village council, and the municipality of Breda. Together they drew up an Area Vision for Bavel 2040, which includes the development of new residential neighborhoods close to the existing A27 and A58 motorways. Residents of Bavel have expressed their concerns about air quality. The province decided to grant the application and placed one of its two mobile air measuring stations in Bavel.

Two mobile air measuring stations from the Province of North Brabant measure air quality at various locations in Brabant for 5 years. This is at the request of municipalities, citizens or citizen initiatives. Image: air measuring station at the Bavel location in 2025

New European air quality directive from 2030

In October 2024, the European Council adopted the new European air quality directive. These stricter requirements for fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and benzene are a trade-off between the health effects of these pollutants and the economic and technical feasibility of no longer emitting them. The annual limit values for the pollutants fine particulate matter (PM2.5) will be reduced from 25 µg/m³ to 10 µg/m³. Those for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 40 µg/m³ to 20 µg/m³. The tightened standards must be met by all EU member states by 2030.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established advisory values for air quality. These advisory values are based solely on health effects.

Measurement results Bavel

In terms of the measured annual averages, the values measured in Bavel meet both the current and the tightened EU limit values for fine particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene per year that will apply from 2030. In terms of daily averages, the daily average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was higher than the future daily average EU limit value on 19 days. As a result, the daily average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Bavel is higher than the limit values that will come into force in 2030. The WHO advisory values are exceeded for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). For fine particulate matter (PM10), the measured values remain below the EU legal limit values and also below the advisory values of the World Health Organization. There are no WHO advisory values for benzene. Significant contributions of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are measured from the direction of the A27 motorway and the St-Annabosch junction. This does not apply to the A58 motorway. The measured values for benzene are low. This shows that there is no question of a benzene contribution from sources in the environment.

Councillor Peter Bakker (climate and environment): “The results of this study give us important insights. It is good to see that the measured values remain within the current limit values, but the exceedance of the WHO advisory values shows that there is still room for improvement. Together with residents, the village council and our partners, we will continue to work on a healthy living environment for Bavel and all of Breda. This study helps us to take targeted measures where necessary.”

Clean Air Agreement

Hagar Roijackers, Deputy for Nature, Environment and the Brabant Rural Area Programme: "We want Brabant to be a pleasant, safe and healthy province. That is why it is important to be able to measure objectively and to look closely at where any bottlenecks are and what their causes are. This also highlights possible solutions. As a province, we are part of the Clean Air Agreement. The aim of the Clean Air Agreement is to jointly permanently improve air quality in the Netherlands. All participating parties take measures to limit air pollution from domestic sources. We want to meet at least the legal standards for all environmental aspects, but at the same time strive for continuous improvement: a Brabant with an ever cleaner, healthier and safer environment."

Measuring stations in Brabant

To implement the two motions 'Healthy Air' and 'More Measuring Points' from the Provincial Council, the Provincial Executive of the Province of North Brabant purchased two mobile air measuring stations in 2021 in addition to fixed measuring stations (Moerdijk, Klundert, Zevenbergen and Ossendrecht). These stations measure air quality at various locations in Brabant for 5 years. This is at the request of municipalities, citizens or citizen initiatives. The fixed stations show a positive, downward trend.

• See also the website of the National Air Quality Monitoring Network (LML) (links to another website)

Do you have a question?

Submit your question via the form or call the province's general number.

• Go to the form (links to another website)
• 073-6812812