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Ammonia (NH3) emissions (APE 003) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of NH 3 have declined by 24% between the years 1990 and 2008. Agriculture was responsible for 94% of NH 3 emissions in 2008.
The reduction in emissions within the agricultural sector is primarily due to a reduction in livestock numbers (especially cattle) since 1990, changes in the handling and management of organic manures and from the decreased use of nitrogenous fertilisers. The reductions achieved in the agricultural sector have been marginally offset by the increased emissions which have occurred during this period in sectors such as transport and to a lesser extent the energy industry and other (non-energy) sectors.
In general, Member States have made excellent progress in reducing emissions below the level of their respective emission ceilings set in the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Twenty-two of the EU-27 Member States have already achieved their 2010 ceilings in 2008. Only Finland still needs to make significant further reductions in order to meet their respective ceilings under the NECD. In the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), emissions of ammonia in 2008 were higher than the ceiling in two countries (Liechtenstein and Switzerland), whilst emissions in Norway were below the ceiling limit by 1%.
Environmental context: NH 3 contributes to acid deposition and eutrophication. The subsequent impacts of acid deposition can be significant, including adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes and damage to forests, crops and other vegetation. Eutrophication can lead to severe reductions in water quality with subsequent impacts including decreased biodiversity, changes in species composition and dominance, and toxicity effects. NH 3 also contributes to the formation of secondary particulate aerosols, an important air pollutant due to its adverse impacts on human health.
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Ammonia (NH3) emissions
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Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions (APE 004) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of non-methane
volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) have decreased by 45% since 1990. In 2008,
the most significant sources of NMVOC emissions were the Solvent and product
use' sector (36%) (comprising activities such as paint application,
dry-cleaning and other use of solvents), followed by the road transport sector
(17%). The decline in emissions since
1990 has primarily been due to reductions achieved in the road transport sector
due to the introduction of vehicle catalytic converters and carbon canisters on
petrol cars, for evaporative emission control driven by tighter vehicle
emission standards, combined with limits on the maximum volatility of petrol
that can be sold in EU Member States, as set in fuel quality directives. The reductions in NMVOC emissions have been
enhanced by the switching from petrol to diesel cars in some EU countries, and changes
in the Solvents and product use' sector (a result of the introduction of
legislative measures limiting for example the use and emissions of solvents). The EU-27 Member States have, in
general, made good progress towards reducing emissions in line with their
obligations under the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Nineteen
Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus,
the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland,
Greece, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
the Netherlands, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,
and the United Kingdom)
have already reduced their national NMVOC emissions below the level of the
emission ceilings set in the NECD. However, three Member States (Denmark,
Germany and Spain) reported 2008 emissions significantly above their respective
emission ceilings and therefore require significant reductions to have been
made in 2009 and 2010 in order to comply with the NECD. Emissions in 2008 for the three
non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg
protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) were all well below their
respective ceilings. Environmental context: Non-methane volatile
organic compounds (NMVOCs) are a collection of organic compounds that differ
widely in their chemical composition but display similar behaviour in the atmosphere.
NMVOCs are emitted into the atmosphere from a large number of sources including
combustion activities, solvent use and production processes. NMVOCs contribute
to the formation of ground level (tropospheric) ozone. In addition, certain
NMVOC species such as benzene and 1,3 butadiene are hazardous to human health.
Quantifying the emissions of total NMVOCs provides an indicator of the
emissions of the most hazardous NMVOCs.
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Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions
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Emissions of primary particulate matter and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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Total emissions of primary PM10 particulate matter have reduced by 21% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2008, driven by a 29% reduction in emissions of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) fraction; emissions of particulates between 2.5 and 10 µm have risen slightly over the same period. Of this reduction in PM10 emissions, 48% has taken place in the 'Energy Production and Distribution' sector due to the fuel-switching from coal to natural gas for electricity generation and improvements in the performance of pollution abatement equipment installed at industrial facilities.
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Emissions of primary particulate matter and secondary particulate matter precursors
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Sulphur dioxide SO2 emissions (APE 001) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) have decreased by 74% between 1990 and 2008. In 2008, the most significant source of SO2 emissions was the 'Energy production and distribution' sector (69%), followed by emissions occurring from 'Energy use in industry' (14%) and in the 'Commercial, institutional and households' (9%) sector. The reduction in emissions since 1990 has been achieved as a result of a combination of measures, including fuel-switching in energy-related sectors away from high sulphur-containing solid and liquid fuels to low sulphur fuels such as natural gas, the fitting of flue gas desulphurisation abatement technology in industrial facilities and the impact of European Union directives relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels. Twenty-three of the EU-27 Member States have already reduced their national SO2 emissions below the level of the 2010 emission ceilings set in the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). The remaining Member States were close to meeting their ceilings under the NECD, except for Malta where emissions in 2008 were significantly higher than their NECD ceiling. Significant reductions will thus have been needed in 2009 and 2010 to ensure compliance. Emissions in 2008 for the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) were also below the level of the respective 2010 ceilings. Environmental context: Sulphur dioxide is emitted when fuels containing sulphur are combusted. It is a pollutant which contributes to acid deposition which in turn can lead to potential changes occurring in soil and water quality. The subsequent impacts of acid deposition can be significant, including adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes and damage to forests, crops and other vegetation. SO2 emissions also contribute to formation of particulate matter in the atmosphere, an important air pollutant in terms of its adverse impact on human health.
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Sulphur dioxide SO2 emissions
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Emissions of ozone precursors (CSI 002) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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Emissions of all ground-level ozone precursor
pollutants have decreased across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2008; nitrogen
oxides (NO X ) by 34%, non-methane volatile organic compounds
(NMVOCs) by 45%, carbon monoxide (CO) by 56% and methane (CH 4 )
by 26%.
This decrease has been achieved mainly as a
result of the introduction of catalytic converters for vehicles. These
changes have significantly reduced emissions of NO X and CO from
the road transport sector, the main source of ozone precursor emissions.
The EU-27 is still some way from meeting its 2010
target to reduce emissions of NO X , one of the two ozone
precursors (NO X and NMVOC) for which emission limits exist
under the EU's NEC Directive (NECD). Whilst total NMVOC emissions in the
EU-27 were below the NECD limit in 2008, a number of individual Member
States anticipate missing their ceilings for one or either of these two
pollutants.
Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the
UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein,
Norway and Switzerland),
all three countries reported NMVOC emissions in 2008 that were lower than their
respective 2010 ceilings. However both Liechtenstein
and Norway
reported NO x emissions in 2008 that were substantially higher than
their respective 2010 ceilings.
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Emissions of ozone precursors
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Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions (APE 002) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO X ) have decreased by 34% between 1990 and 2008. In 2008, the most significant sources of NO X emissions were the road transport sector (39%), combustion processes from within the energy industries sector (21%), the commercial, institutional and households sector (15%) and from industrial energy use (14%). The largest reduction of emissions since 1990 has occurred in the road transport sector. These reductions have been achieved despite the general increase in activity within this sector since the early 1990s and have primarily been achieved as a result of fitting three-way catalysts to petrol fuelled vehicles. In the electricity/energy production sector reductions have also occurred, in these instances as a result of measures such as the introduction of combustion modification technologies (such as use of low NO X burners), implementation of flue-gas abatement techniques (e.g. NO X scrubbers and selective (SCR) and non-selective (SNCR) catalytic reduction techniques) and fuel-switching from coal to gas. The National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) specifies NO X emission ceilings for Member States that must be met by 2010. In general, the newer EU Member States have made substantially better progress towards meeting their respective NO X ceilings than the older Member States of the EU-15. Ten of the twelve post-2004 Member States have already reduced emissions beyond what is required under the NECD, and one (Slovenia) reported NO X emissions just 5% above the NECD target in 2008. In contrast, only one EU-15 Member State (Finland) had 2008 emissions within its respective national ceiling. Many Member States though require a significant reduction of NO X emissions to have been made in 2009 and 2010 if they are to meet their obligations under the NECD. Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) only for Switzerland were emissions in 2008 below the level of the respective 2010 ceilings Environmental context: NO X contributes to acid deposition and eutrophication. The subsequent impacts of acid deposition can be significant, including adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes and damage to forests, crops and other vegetation. Eutrophication can lead to severe reductions in water quality with subsequent impacts including decreased biodiversity, changes in species composition and dominance, and toxicity effects. It is NO 2 that is associated with adverse affects on human health, as at high concentrations it can cause inflammation of the airways. NO 2 also contributes to the formation of secondary particulate aerosols and tropospheric ozone in the atmosphere - both are important air pollutants due to their adverse impacts on human health.
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Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions
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EEA-32 ammonia (NH3) emissions (APE 003) - Assessment published Feb 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of NH 3 have declined by 22% between the years 1990 and 2007. Agriculture was responsible for 93% of NH 3 emissions in 2007. The reduction in emissions within the agricultural sector is primarily due to a reduction in livestock numbers (especially cattle) since 1990, changes in the handling and management of organic manures and from the decreased use of nitrogenous fertilisers. The reductions achieved in the agricultural sector have been marginally offset by the increased emissions which have occurred during this period in sectors such as transport and to a lesser extent the energy industry and other (non-energy) sectors. In general, Member States have made excellent progress in reducing emissions below the level of their respective emission ceilings set in the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Twenty-one of the EU-27 Member States have already achieved their ceilings. Only Finland, Germany and Spain still need to make significant further reductions in order to meet their respective ceilings under the NECD. Environmental context: NH 3 contributes to acid deposition and eutrophication. The subsequent impacts of acid deposition can be significant, including adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes and damage to forests, crops and other vegetation. Eutrophication can lead to severe reductions in water quality with subsequent impacts including decreased biodiversity, changes in species composition and dominance, and toxicity effects. NH 3 also contributes to the formation of secondary particulate aerosols, an important air pollutant due to its adverse impacts on human health.
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EEA-32 ammonia (NH3) emissions
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EEA-32 Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions (APE 002) - Assessment published Feb 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) have decreased by 31% between 1990 and 2007. In 2007, the most significant sources of NO x emissions were the road transport sector (36%), combustion processes from within the energy industries sector (21%) and industrial energy use (15%) and the non-road transport sector (16%). The largest reduction of emissions since 1990 has occurred in the road transport sector. These reductions have been achieved despite the general increase in activity within this sector since the early 1990s and have primarily been achieved as a result of fitting three-way catalysts to petrol fuelled vehicles. In the electricity/energy production sector reductions have also occurred, in these instances as a result of measures such as the introduction of combustion modification technologies (such as use of low NO x burners), implementation of flue-gas abatement techniques (e.g. NO x scrubbers and selective (SCR) and selective non-catalytic (SNCR) reduction techniques) and fuel-switching from coal to gas. The National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) specifies NO x emission ceilings for Member States that must be met by 2010. In general, the newer Member States have made substantially better progress towards meeting their respective NOx ceilings than the older Member States of the EU-15. Eleven of the twelve post-2004 Member States have already reduced emissions beyond what is required under the NECD, or are very close to doing so (Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia). In contrast, only one EU-15 Member State (Portugal) has emissions within its respective national ceiling. Many Member States therefore must make significant cuts to NO x emissions in the immediate coming years if they are to meet their obligations under the NECD. Environmental context: NO x contributes to acid deposition and eutrophication. The subsequent impacts of acid deposition can be significant, including adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes and damage to forests, crops and other vegetation. Eutrophication can lead to severe reductions in water quality with subsequent impacts including decreased biodiversity, changes in species composition and dominance, and toxicity effects. It is NO 2 that is associated with adverse affects on human health, as at high concentrations it can cause inflammation of the airways. NO 2 also contributes to the formation of secondary particulate aerosols and tropospheric ozone in the atmosphere - both are important air pollutants due to their adverse impacts on human health.
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EEA-32 Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions
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EEA-32 Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions (APE 004) - Assessment published Feb 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) have decreased by 41% since 1990. In 2007, the most significant sources of NMVOC emissions were the 'other (non energy)' sector (37%) (comprising activities such as paint application, dry-cleaning and other use of solvents), followed by the road transport sector (15%). The decline in emissions since 1990 has primarily been due to reductions achieved in the road transport sector (due to the introduction of vehicle catalytic converters and the switching from petrol to diesel cars) and in the 'other (non-energy)' sector (a result of the introduction of legislative measures limiting for example the use and emissions of solvents). The EU-27 Member States have, in general, made good progress towards reducing emissions in line with their obligations under the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Sixteen Member States (Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) have already reduced their national NMVOC emissions below the level of the emission ceilings set in the NECD. However, three Member States (France Germany, Spain and Portugal) have emissions still significantly above their respective emission ceilings and thus must make significant reductions over the coming years if they are to comply with the NECD. Environmental context: Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) are a collection of organic compounds that differ widely in their chemical composition but display similar behaviour in the atmosphere. NMVOCs are emitted into the atmosphere from a large number of sources including combustion activities, solvent use and production processes. NMVOCs contribute to the formation of ground level (tropospheric) ozone. In addition, certain NMVOC species such as benzene and 1,3 butadiene are hazardous to human health. Quantifying the emissions of total NMVOCs provides an indicator of the emissions of the most hazardous NMVOCs.
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EEA-32 Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions
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EEA-32 Sulphur dioxide SO2 emissions (APE 001) - Assessment published Feb 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) have decreased by 69% between 1990 and 2007. In 2007, the most significant source of SO 2 emissions was the energy industries sector (69%), followed by emissions occurring from 'Other (Non Energy)' (20%) and industrial energy use (12%). The reduction in emissions since 1990 has been achieved as a result of a combination of measures, including fuel-switching in energy-related sectors away from high sulphur-containing solid and liquid fuels to low sulphur fuels such as natural gas, the fitting of flue gas desulphurisation abatement technology in industrial facilities and the impact of European Community directives relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels. Seventeen of the EU-27 Member States have already reduced their national SO 2 emissions below the level of the emission ceilings set in the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD), while a number of others are close to meeting their ceilings. However, a small number of Member States still need to make significant further reductions in order to meet their respective ceilings under the NECD. Environmental context: Sulphur dioxide is emitted when fuels containing sulphur are combusted. It is a pollutant which contributes to acid deposition which in turn can lead to potential changes occurring in soil and water quality. The subsequent impacts of acid deposition can be significant, including adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes and damage to forests, crops and other vegetation. SO 2 emissions also contribute to formation of particulate matter in the atmosphere, an important air pollutant in terms of its adverse impact on human health.
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EEA-32 Sulphur dioxide SO2 emissions
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