Monitoring in Europe

Noticeable pollution in BordeauxGenerally the European countries lagged significantly behind the United States in meaningful environmental regulation, including air quality standards, water quality standards, soil contamination cleanup, indoor air quality and noise regulations.[4] Despite this, European pollution output is far lower than that of the USA. In the year 2000, UK Air Quality Regulations were established and they were further amended in 2002. There has also been British harmonization with EU regulations.

The EU is presently entertaining use of the (possibly carcinogenic) MTBE as a widespread gasoline additive, a chemical which has been in the process of phaseout in the U.S. for over a decade.