title: The German view: effects of nitrogen dioxide on human health--derivation of health-related short-term and long-term values.
abstract: The presented overview concerning health relevant effects caused by nitrogen dioxide (NO2) resumes the current state of results from animal experiments and human studies (epidemiology and short-term chambers studies). NO2 concentrations applied in animal experiments were mostly considerably higher than in ambient air. Therefore, short- and long-term limit values were derived from human data. Experimental studies conducted with humans demonstrate effects after short-term exposure to concentrations at or above 400 microg NO2/m3. Effects on patients with light asthma could not be observed after short-term exposure to concentrations below 200 microg/m3. On basis of epidemiological long-term studies a threshold below which no effect on human health is expected could not be specified. Two short-term limit values have been proposed to protect public health: a 1-h value of 100 microg/m3 and a 24-h mean value of 50 microg/m3. Due to the limitations of epidemiological studies to disentangle effects of single pollutants, a long-term limit value cannot be easily derived. However, applying the precautionary principle, it is desirable to adopt an annual mean of 20 microg NO2/m3 as a long-term mean standard to protect public health.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of the Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, Germany. martin.kraft@munlv.nrw.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eikmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Künzli
authors.forename: Regula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: H Erich
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Wichmann
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000592:standards* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005858:Germany; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000592:standards* / Q000633:toxicity; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide