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Distance-to-target for EEA member countries
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Data are for ammonia. The distance to target results are shown in green (countries need to do more to be on track to meet their ceiling in 2010) and purple (countries are on track to meet their ceiling in 2010)
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Change (%) in HCH emissions 1990-2009 (EEA member countries)
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The reported change in hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) emissions for each country, 1990-2009.
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Change in CH4 emissions for each sector 1990-2009 (EEA member countries)
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Percentage change in methane (CH4) emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2009.
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Distance-to-target for EEA member countries
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The distance-to-target indicator shows how current emissions compare to a linear emission reduction 'target-path' between 1990 emission levels and the 2010 emission ceiling for each country. Negative percentage values indicate the current emissions in a country are below the linear target path; positive values show that current emission lie above a linear target path to 2010.
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Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions (APE 004) - Assessment published Dec 2011
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EEA-32 emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) have decreased by 51% since 1990. In 2009, the most significant sources of NMVOC emissions were ‘Solvent and product use’ (36%) (comprising activities such as paint application, dry-cleaning and other use of solvents), followed by ‘Commercial, institutional and households’ (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 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 specified 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). Twenty four Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, 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, two Member States (Denmark and Germany) reported 2009 emissions significantly above their respective emission ceilings and therefore require significant reductions to have been made in 2010 in order to comply with the 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 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, and 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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Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions (APE 006) - Assessment published Dec 2011
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EEA-32 emissions of a number of compounds categorised as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have decreased between 1990 and 2009 – e.g. hexachlorobenzene (HCB, by 92%), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, by 85%), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, by 75%), dioxins & furans (by 83%), and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, by 61%). While the majority of countries report that POPs emissions have fallen during this period, a number do report that increased emissions have occurred.
In 2009, the most significant sources of emissions for these POPs included the ‘Commercial, institutional and households’ (10% of HCB, 32% of dioxins and furans, 16% of PCBs) and ‘Industrial processes’ (70% of HCB, 32% of HCH, 27% of PCBs) sectors.
Important emission sources of PAH, include residential combustion processes (open fires, coal and wood burning for heating purposes etc), industrial metal production processes, and the road transport sector. Emissions from these sources have all declined since 1990 as a result of decreased residential use of coal, improvements in abatement technologies for metal refining and smelting, and stricter regulations on emissions from the road transport sector.
Environmental context: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment, have potential to bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. This group of substances includes unintentional by-products of industrial processes (such as PAHs, dioxins and furans) pesticides (such as DDT), and industrial chemicals (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs). All share the property of being progressively accumulated higher up the food chain, such that chronic exposure of lower organisms to much lower concentrations can expose predatory organisms, including humans and wildlife, to potentially harmful concentrations. In humans they are also of concern for human health because of their toxicity, their potential to cause cancer and their ability to cause harmful effects at low concentrations. Their relative toxic/carcinogenic potencies are compound specific. POPs have also been shown to possess a number of toxicological properties. The major concern is often centred on their possible role in carcinogenic, immunological and reproductive effects but more recently concern has also been expressed over their possible harmful effects on human development.
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Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions
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Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions (APE 006) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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EEA-32
emissions of a number of compounds categorised as persistent organic
pollutants (POPs), have
decreased between 1990 and 2008 - hexachlorobenzene (HCB, by -89%), hexachlorocyclohexane
(HCH, by -86%), polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs, by -76%), dioxins & furans (by 81%) and poly-aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs, by -60%). While the majority of individual
countries report POP emissions have fallen during this period, a number do
report that increased emissions have occurred. In
2008, the most significant sources of
emissions for these POPs included the 'Commercial, institutional and households'
(53% of PAHs, 30% of dioxins & furans, 23% of PCBs) and 'Industrial
Processes' (99% of HCB, 74% of HCH, 37% of PCBs) sectors. Important
emission sources of PAH, include residential combustion processes (open fires,
coal and wood burning for heating purposes etc), industrial metal production
processes, and the road transport sector. Emissions from these sources have all
declined since 1990 as a result of decreased residential use of coal,
improvements in abatement technologies for metal refining and smelting, and
stricter regulations on emissions from the road transport sector. Environmental context: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are
chemical substances that persist in the environment, have potential to
bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects
to human health and the environment. This group of substances includes
unintentional by-products of industrial processes (such as PAHs, dioxins and
furans) pesticides (such as DDT), and industrial chemicals (such as
polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs). All share the property of being progressively
accumulated higher up the food chain, such that chronic exposure of lower
organisms to much lower concentrations can expose predatory organisms,
including humans and wildlife, to potentially harmful concentrations. In humans
they are also of concern for human health because of their toxicity, their
potential to cause cancer and their ability to cause harmful effects at low
concentrations. Their relative toxic/carcinogenic potencies are compound
specific. POPs have also been shown to possess a number of toxicological
properties. The major concern is often centred on their possible role in
carcinogenic, immunological and reproductive effects but more recently concern
has also been expressed over their possible harmful effects on human
development.
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Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions
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Sector contributions of ozone precursor emissions (EEA member countries)
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The contribution made by different sectors to emissions of the tropospheric (ground-level) ozone precursors.
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Emissions of primary PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter (EEA member countries)
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This chart shows past emission trends of primary PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, 1990-2009.
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Contribution to total change in PM2.5 emissions for each sector and pollutant between 1990 and 2009 (EEA member countries)
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The contribution made by each sector to the total change in primary PM2.5 particulate matter emissions between 1990 and 2009.
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