2. Climate and air as planning factors
Air-polluting substances


VDI guideline 2450 determines two categories of air-polluting substances: Primary pollutants, which are emitted by plants or other processes and go directly into the atmosphere (e.g. sulphur dioxide), and secondary pollutants, which are the result of a chemical reaction in the atmosphere (e.g. ozone).

Another classification as for combustion processes is the classification into pollutants depending on fuel and those depending on the combustion process. The first category comprises substances like sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide, which cannot be avoided despite an ideal combustion as they are part of the raw material. The second category comprises e.g. nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxides, whose production largely depends on the firing system that is used and which can be influenced with the appropriate firing technology.

In order to keep track of the current air pollution and contain the measurement effort, the 4th administrative regulation to the Federal Immission Control Act (1975) restricts regular measurements to few "guide pollutants".

Important guide pollutants are:

- sulphur dioxide (SO2)
- carbon monoxide (CO)
- nitrogen oxides (NO + NO2)
- organic compounds (CH)
- ozone (O3)
- dust

The degree of air pollution may differ significantly from place to another. The highest pollution levels can generally be found in agglomeration areas with a high emission potential. This must not be true, however, as for secondary pollutants that are only produced during transportation.

For more details on the individual pollutant components, please read chapter 6.

© City of Stuttgart, Office for Environmental Protection, Section of Urban Climatology

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