Emission trends of non-methane volatile organic compounds NMVOC

Key messages

• • EEA-32 emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) have decreased by 41% since 1990. In 2005, the most significant sources of NMVOC emissions were the "other (non energy)" sector (35%) (comprising activities such as paint application, dry-cleaning and other use of solvents), followed by the road transport sector (20%).
  • 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). Thirteen Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom) have already reduced their national NMVOC emissions below the level of the emission ceilings set in the NECD. However, six Member States (Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Portugal and Spain) 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.