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Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions (APE 006) - Assessment published Dec 2012
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EEA-32 emissions of a number of compounds categorised as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have decreased between 1990 and 2010, including hexachlorobenzene (HCB) by 91%, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) by 93%, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by 74%, dioxins & furans by 83%, and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by 52%. While the majority of individual countries report that POP emissions have fallen during this period, a number report that increases in emissions of one or more pollutants have occurred.
In 2010, the most significant sources of emissions for these POPs included the sectors 'Commercial, institutional and households' (11% of HCB, 37% of dioxins and furans, 18% of PCB emissions) and 'Industrial processes' (70% of HCB, 66% of HCH, 28% of PCBs).
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 for biomagnification 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 bioaccumulation in lower organisms to relatively low concentrations can expose higher consumer organisms, including humans, 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, but in general the major concerns are centred on their possible role in causing cancer, neurobehavioral, immunological and reproductive disorders. 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 split of emissions of selected POPs in 2010 (EEA member countries)
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The contribution made by different sectors in 2010 to emissions of: HCB - hexachlorobenzene, HCH - hexachlorocyclohexane, PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyls; dioxins & furans; and PAHs - polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
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Contribution to total change in PAH emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2010 (EEA member countries)
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The contribution made by each sector to the total change in emissions of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) between 1990 and 2010: HCB - hexachlorobenzene, HCH - hexachlorocyclohexane, PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyls; dioxins & furans; and PAHs - polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
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Change (%) in PAH emissions 1990-2010 (EEA member countries)
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The reported change in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) emissions for each country, 1990-2010.
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Change (%) in Dioxin & Furan emissions 1990-2010 (EEA member countries)
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The reported change in dioxin and furan emissions for each country, 1990-2010.
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Change (%) in PCB emissions 1990-2010 (EEA member countries)
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The reported change in polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) emissions for each country, 1990-2010.
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Change (%) in HCH emissions 1990-2010 (EEA member countries)
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The reported change in hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) emissions for each country, 1990-2010.
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Change (%) in HCB emissions 1990-2010 (EEA member countries)
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The reported change in hexachlorobenzene (HCB) emissions for each country, 1990-2010.
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Emission trends of persistent organic pollutants (EEA member countries - indexed 1990 = 100)
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Emission trends 1990-2010 for the persistent organic pollutants: HCB - hexachlorobenzene, HCH - hexachlorocyclohexane, PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyls; dioxins & furans; and PAHs - polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
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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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