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Emissions of ozone precursors (CSI 002) - Assessment published Dec 2008
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The aggregated emissions of ground-level ozone precursor pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NO x ), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH 4 )) have decreased by 37% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2006. This decrease has been achieved mainly as a result of the introduction of catalytic converters for vehicles and to a lesser extent by a switch from petrol-fuelled cars to more diesel cars. Together 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 target to reduce emissions of two ozone precursors (NO x and NMVOC) for which emission limits exist under the NEC Directive. A number of individual Member States anticipate missing their ceilings for one or either of these two pollutants.
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Emissions of ozone precursors
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Emissions of ozone precursors (CSI 002) - Assessment published Jan 2010
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The aggregated emissions of ground-level ozone precursor pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NO x ), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH 4 )) have decreased by 39% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2007. This decrease has been achieved mainly as a result of the introduction of catalytic converters for vehicles and to a lesser extent by a switch from petrol-fuelled cars to more diesel cars. Together 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 target to reduce emissions of two ozone precursors (NO x and NMVOC) for which emission limits exist under the NEC Directive. A number of individual Member States anticipate missing their ceilings for one or either of these two pollutants.
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Emissions of ozone precursors
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Oct 2005
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Total EU-15 emissions of fine particles were reduced by 39% between 1990 and 2002. This was due mainly to reduction in emissions of the secondary particulate precursors, but also to reductions in primary PM 10 emissions from energy industries.
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Dec 2006
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Total EU-15 emissions of fine particles were reduced by 45% between 1990 and 2004. This was due mainly to reduction in emissions of the secondary particulate precursors, but also to reductions in primary PM10 emissions from energy industries. Total EU-10 emissions of fine particles were reduced by 55% between 1990 and 2004
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Mar 2008
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Aggregated emissions of primary particles (PM 10 ) and secondary particulate precursors (NO x , SO 2 , NH 3 ) were reduced by 45% across the EEA member countries between 1990 and 2005 (Figure 1). This was mainly due to the reduction in emissions of the secondary particulate precursors which were reduced by 45% during this period, but also due to reductions in primary PM 10 emissions from energy industries, due to the move away from coal to natural gas for electricity generation and improvements in the performance of particulate abatement equipment at coal-fired power stations. Total EU-15 emissions of fine particles were reduced by 46% between 1990 and 2005 (Figure 2) with the highest decrease in the energy industry sector which reduced its emissions by 65% during this period. Between 1990 and 2005, total new EU-12 emissions of fine particulate matter were reduced by 54% (Figure 3) mainly due to reductions achieved in the industry and energy sectors which reduced their emissions by 70% and 60%, respectively.
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Dec 2008
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Total emissions of primary particulate matter (PM 10 ) and secondary particulate precursors (nitrogen oxides (NO x ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and ammonia (NH 3 )) have reduced by 44% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2006. Of this reduction, 43% has taken place in the 'energy industries' 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. Emissions of primary PM 10 particulate matter make only a small contribution to total particulate matter formation - 13% in 2006. The majority of particulate matter is formed from emissions of the secondary particulate precursors. Of the particulate-forming pollutants, reductions of SO 2 that have taken place since 1990 have accounted for 60% of the overall reduction in particulate emissions, with NO x accounting for a further 30% of the observed reduction. The reduction in emissions of primary particles has accounted for only 6% of the overall reduction.
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Jan 2010
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Total emissions of primary particulate matter (PM 10 ) and secondary particulate precursors (nitrogen oxides (NO x ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and ammonia (NH 3 )) have reduced by 45% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2007. Of this reduction, 41% has taken place in the 'energy industries' 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. Emissions of primary PM 10 particulate matter make only a small contribution to total particulate matter formation (12%) in 2007. The majority of particulate matter is formed from emissions of the secondary particulate precursors. Of the particulate-forming pollutants, reductions of SO 2 that have taken place since 1990 have accounted for 60% of the overall reduction in particulate emissions, with NO x accounting for a further 30% of the observed reduction. The reduction in emissions of primary particles has accounted for only 6% of the overall reduction.
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors
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Sulphur dioxide SO2 emissions (APE 001) - Assessment published Dec 2011
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EEA-32 emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) have decreased by 76% between 1990 and 2009. In 2009, the most significant sectoral source of SO X emissions was Energy production and distribution (70%), followed by emissions occurring from Energy use in industry (13%) 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. All of the EU-27 Member States have already reduced their national SO X emissions below the level of the 2010 emission ceilings set in the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Emissions in 2009 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. SO X emissions also contribute as a secondary particulate pollutant 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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Ammonia (NH3) emissions (APE 003) - Assessment published Dec 2011
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EEA-32 emissions of NH 3 have declined by 26% between the years 1990 and 2009. Agriculture was responsible for 94% of NH 3 emissions in 2009.
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 transport sectors and to a lesser extent the ‘Solvent and product use’ sector.
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). Preliminary data released by EEA in February 2011 show that 26 of the 27 EU Member States report that they have achieved their ceilings. Finland is the only Member State which has exceeded its 2010 ceiling.
Three non-EU countries have emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (i.e. Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The preliminary data recently received from these countries indicates only Liechtenstein has not met its 2010 emission ceiling.
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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Emissions of primary particulate matter and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Dec 2011
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Total emissions of primary PM 10 particulate matter have reduced by 27% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2009, driven by a 34% reduction in emissions of the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) fraction; emissions of particulates between 2.5 and 10 µm have risen slightly (10%) over the same period.
Of this reduction in PM 10 emissions, 37% has taken place in the 'Energy Production and Distribution' sector due reasons including 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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