Data and maps

Change (%) in mercury emissions 1990-2009 (EEA member countries): The reported change in mercury (Hg) emissions for each country, 1990-2009.
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The electric car comes of age: The electric car is on the verge of breaking through, offering a realistic choice for innovative and clean mobility.
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Emission trends of sulphur oxides (EEA member countries, EU-27 Member States): This chart shows past emission trends of sulphur dioxide in the EEA-32 and EU-27 group of countries. In addition - for the EU-27 - the 2010 NECD and 2020 Gothenburg target paths and emission ceilings are shown.
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Contribution to total change in ammonia emissions for each sector (EEA member countries): Chart showing sector contribution in the total percentage change of NH3 emissions between 1990 and 2007.
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Contribution to total change in non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions for each sector (EEA member countries): Chart showing sector contribution in the total percentage change of NMVOC emissions between 1990 and 2007.
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Change in non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2007 (EEA member countries): Chart showing percentage change of NMVOC emissions between 1990 and 2007, detail is shown by sectors.
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Emission trends of nitrogen oxides (EEA member countries, EU-27 Member States): The 'with measures' (WM) projections reported by Member States take into account currently implemented and adopted policies and measures. Where countries have instead reported 'business as usual' or 'current legislation' projections, it is assumed for comparison purposes that these are equivalent to a WM projection. The 'with additional measures' projections reported by Member States take into account additional future planned policies and measures but which are not yet implemented.
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Heavy metal (HM) emissions (APE 005) - Assessment published Oct 2010: Across the EEA-32 countries, emissions of lead have decreased by 90%, mercury by 61% and lead by cadmium by 58% between 1990 and 2008. For each substance, the most significant sources in 2008 are from energy-related sources associated with fuel combustion, particularly from public power and heat generating facilities and in industrial facilities. Much progress has been made since the early 1990s in reducing point source emissions of cadmium and lead (e.g. emissions from industrial facilities). This has been achieved through improvements in for example abatement technologies for wastewater treatment, incinerators and in metal refining and smelting industries, and in some countries by the closure of older industrial facilities as a consequence of economic re-structuring. In the case of mercury, the observed decrease in emissions may be largely attributed to improved controls on mercury cells used in industrial processes (e.g. in the chlor-alkali process) including the replacement of old mercury cells by diaphragm or membrane cells, and the general decline of coal use across Europe as a result of fuel switching. The promotion of unleaded petrol within the EU and in other EEA member countries through a combination of fiscal and regulatory measures has been a particular success story. EU Member States have for example completely phased out the use of leaded petrol, a goal that was regulated by Directive 98/70/EC. From being the largest source of lead in 1990 when it contributed around 75% of total emissions, emissions from the road transport sector decreased since then by nearly 99%. Nevertheless, the road transport sector still remains an important source of lead, contributing around 8% of total lead emission in the EEA-32 region. However since 2002 little progress has been made in reducing emissions further; total emissions of lead have remained largely constant. Environmental context: Heavy metals (such as cadmium, lead and mercury) are recognised as being toxic to biota. All have the quality 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, to potentially harmful concentrations. In humans they are also of direct concern because of their toxicity, their potential to cause cancer and their potential ability to cause harmful effects at low concentrations. The relative toxic/carcinogenic potencies of heavy metals are compound specific. Specifically, exposure to heavy metals has been linked with developmental retardation, various cancers and kidney damage. Metals are persistent throughout the environment, and cadmium, lead and mercury are among those heavy metals that are already a focus of international and EU action. These substances tend not just to be confined to a given geographical region, and thus are not always open to effective local control. For example, in the case of cadmium, much is found in fine particles which do not readily dry deposit, rather having long residence times in the atmosphere and hence are subject to long-range transport processes.
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Ammonia (NH3) emissions (APE 003) - Assessment published Oct 2010: 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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