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A report just launched by the European Environment Agency
shows that road transport remains the single main source of
nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide
(CO) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) -
and the second-most important source of fine particulate emissions
(PM10 and PM2.5)
in the EU-27.
This report contains essential data that helps understand
the evolution of air pollutant emissions since 1990.
The report acknowledges that most EU-27 countries have reduced
their emissions of air pollutants over the past decades. However,
other studies show that pollution continues to undermine local
air quality, particularly in urban areas. The report identifies
road transport, manufacturing industries and construction,
the residential sector and agriculture as the main sources
of air pollution in Europe today.
Exposure to air pollutants
may damage health in the short and long-term, affect natural
ecosystems and corrode buildings and materials. Particulate
matter from sources such as vehicle exhausts and residential
heating can affect the lungs and harm people of all ages,
but it is known to pose an extra risk to those with existing
heart and respiratory problems.
Air pollutants are also responsible
for the acidification of forests and water ecosystems and
eutrophication of soils and waters - leading to limited supply
of oxygen in rivers and lakes.
Between 1990 and 2006, nitrogen
oxides (NOx) emissions decreased by
35%, although the change of total NOx
emissions between 2005 and 2006 was small - with a decrease
of just 1.8%, due to reductions that occurred in Germany,
Italy and the United Kingdom. Nitrogen oxides are one of the
main contributors to the formation of ground-level ozone,
high levels of which can trigger severe respiratory problems.
It also makes an important contribution to acidification and
eutrophication.
Electricity and heat production
(e.g. at power stations) constitutes the main source of sulphur
oxides (SOx) emissions (58.4%), followed
by manufacturing industries and construction sources (14.3%).
SOx is an acidifying pollutant which
can also aggravate respiratory diseases.
In contrast, agricultural activities
are responsible for the vast majority of ammonia (NH3)
emissions in EU-27. NH3 is an important
pollutant which causes acidification and eutrophication. Livestock
manure - together with emissions from the application of fertilisers
- account for more than 90% of the NH3
generation.
Each year, the European Environment
Agency assists the European Commission by preparing the European
Community’s inventory report which is reported to the Long-range
Transboundary Air Pollution Convention (LRTAP).
What is the LRTAP Convention?
Since 1979, the Convention
on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution has addressed some
of the major environmental problems of the member countries
of the UN Economic Commission for Europe. The Convention has
51 Parties and aims to limit and, as far as possible, gradually
reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary
air pollution.
Which air pollutants are
covered by the inventory?
Under the LRTAP Convention,
Parties (including the European Community) are requested to
report emissions data for a number of important air pollutants
- including sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen
oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic
compounds (NMVOCs), ammonia (NH3), carbon
monoxide (CO), primary particulate matter (PM10
and PM2.5), heavy metals (HMs)
and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
EU-27 - Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United
Kingdom.
Data in the report will be
made available through the EEA’s Dataservice
later in 2008. The data is also used in assessments performed
by EEA and will be used to update emission indicators from
the EEA’s Core
Set of Indicators.
For further information -
- Annual European Community LRTAP Convention Emission
Inventory report 1990-2006 -
Click Here
- UNECE
Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
- Click
Here
- The EMEP Centre on Emission
Inventories and Projections (CEIP) - Click
Here
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