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You are here: Home / Data and maps / Indicators / Emissions of primary particulate matter and secondary particulate matter precursors / Emissions of primary particulate matter and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Oct 2010

Emissions of primary particulate matter and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Oct 2010

Created : Oct 22, 2010 Published : Oct 25, 2010 Last modified : Sep 12, 2011 05:58 PM

This item is open for comments. See the comments section below

Generic metadata

Topics:

Air pollution Air pollution (Primary topic)

Environment and health Environment and health

Industry Industry

Tags:
SOER2010 | CSI | Assessment10 | PM10 | CSI003 | emission | particulate matter | PM2.5 | NOx | air emissions | NH3 | SOx | pollution
DPSIR: Pressure
Typology: Performance indicator (Type B – Does it matter?)
Indicator codes
  • CSI 003
Dynamic
Temporal coverage:
1990-2008
 
Contents
 
Switch to full indicator view

Indicator definition

  • This indicator tracks trends since 1990 in anthropogenic emissions of primary particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and 10 µm (PM10) respectively, and secondary particulate matter precursors (nitrogen oxides (NOX), ammonia (NH3), and sulphur dioxide (SO2)).
  • The indicator also provides information on emissions by sectors: Energy production and distribution; Energy use in industry; Industrial processes; Road transport; Non-road transport; Commercial, institutional and households; Solvent and product use; Agriculture; Waste; Other.
  • Geographical coverage: EEA-32. The EEA-32 country grouping includes countries of the EU-27 (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) EFTA-4 (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway) and Turkey.
  • Temporal coverage: 1990-2010.

Units

ktonnes (1000 tonnes)


Key policy question: What progress is being made in reducing emissions of primary particulate matter (PM10) and secondary particulate matter precursors?

Key messages

  • Total emissions of primary PM10 particulate matter have reduced by 21% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2008, driven by a 29% reduction in emissions of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) fraction; emissions of particulates between 2.5 and 10 µm have risen slightly over the same period.
  • Of this reduction in PM10 emissions, 48% has taken place in the 'Energy Production and Distribution' 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 PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter (EEA member countries)

Emissions of primary PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter (EEA member countries)

Note: This chart shows past emission trends of primary PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, 1990-2008.

Data source:
Downloads and more info

Percentage change in PM2.5 and PM10 emissions 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Percentage change in PM2.5 and PM10 emissions 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Note: The reported change in primary PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter for each country, 1990-2008.

Data source:
Downloads and more info

Key assessment

Emissions of primary particulate matter (PM10) have reduced by 21% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2008 (Figure 1), with significant reductions having occurred within most individual countries. The largest reductions have been reported by Estonia (-58%), the United Kingdom (-53%) and the Netherlands (-51%). In contrast emissions have increased in nine countries since 1990; the greatest increases have been reported in Lithuania (+99%), Finland (+105%), Malta (+107%), Romania (208%), and Bulgaria (+260%). In Lithuania this increase is due mainly to emissions in energy related sectors; in Finland emissions have fallen since 2004; in Malta increases in ‘Road-Transport’ and ‘Energy Production and Distribution’ emissions caused rising PM10 emissions from 1990 to 2004; a sharp increase in reported emissions in Romania in 2007 is due mainly to emissions from ‘Road Transport’ and ‘Energy Use in Industry’; Bulgaria significantly revised emissions estimates in 2008, after reporting one years’ data for all previous years since 1990.

The reductions in total emissions of particulate matter between 1990 and 2008 have been mainly due to the introduction or improvement of abatement measures across the energy, road transport, and industry sectors coupled with other developments in industrial sectors such as fuel switching from high-sulphur containing fuels to low-sulphur fuels (which have also contributed to decreased formation of secondary particulate matter in the atmosphere). Emissions of primary PM10 are expected to decrease in the future as vehicle technologies are further improved and stationary fuel combustion emissions are controlled through abatement or use of low sulphur fuels such as natural gas. Despite this, it is expected that within many of the urban areas across the EU, PM10 concentrations will still be well above the EU limit values for PM10. Substantial further reductions in emissions will therefore be needed if the air quality limit value set in the EU's Air Quality Directive is to be reached.

There are no specific EU emission targets for primary PM10. However the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) and the Gothenburg protocol to the UNECE LRTAP Convention both set ceilings (i.e. limits) for the secondary particulate matter precursors NH3, NOX and SO2 that countries must meet by 2010 [1]. Further details concerning the overall progress toward the 2010 ceilings for these pollutants may be found in the indicator fact sheet CSI 001 Emissions of acidifying substances, with additional details concerning the individual secondary particulate matter precursor pollutants available in the following indicator fact sheets:

[1] The NECD and Gothenburg protocol also set an emission ceiling for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) which contribute to ground-level ozone formation.

Specific policy question: How do different sectors and processes contribute to emissions of PM10 and their precursors?

Change in PM2.5 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Change in PM2.5 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Note: Percentage change in primary PM2.5 particulate matter emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2008.

Data source:
Downloads and more info

Sector contributions of emissions of primary particulate matter and secondary precursors (EEA member countries)

Sector contributions of emissions of primary particulate matter and secondary precursors (EEA member countries)

Note: The contribution made by different sectors to emissions of primary PM2.5 and PM10, and to emissions of the secondary particulate matter precursors.

Data source:
Downloads and more info

Change in PM10 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Change in PM10 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Note: Percentage change in primary PM10 particulate matter emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2008.

Data source:
Downloads and more info

Contribution to total change in PM2.5 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Contribution to total change in PM2.5 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Note: The contribution made by each sector to the total change in primary PM2.5 particulate matter emissions between 1990 and 2008.

Data source:
Downloads and more info

Contribution to total change in PM10 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Contribution to total change in PM10 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)

Note: The contribution made by each sector to the total change in primary PM10 particulate matter emission between 1990 and 2008.

Data source:
Downloads and more info

Specific assessment

The most important sources of primary PM10 emissions in 2008, across the EEA-32 region, were the 'Commercial, institutional and households' (36 %), 'Industrial (Processes)' (17%) and ‘Road Transport' (14 %) sectors. The ‘Commercial, institutional and households’ sector includes combustion-related emissions from e.g. heating of residential and commercial properties.

Since 1990, emissions of primary PM10 from most sectors have decreased (Figure 3a), with the exception of the ‘Other’, ‘Non-road transport’, and ‘Agriculture’ sectors, in which emissions have risen by 58%, 20%, and 2% respectively. Since 1990, emissions from the combustion-related sectors 'Energy production and distribution', 'Energy use in industry' and 'Road Transport' have in particular reduced significantly, contributing 48%, 10% and 17% respectively of the total reduction of particulate matter emissions (Figure 4).

As described in the main assessment, a combination of factors has contributed to the reduction of both primary PM and secondary particulate matter emissions in these sectors between 1990 and 2007. These include for primary PM:

  • improvements in the performance of particulate abatement equipment at industrial combustion facililties, e.g. coal-fired power stations;
  • since the early 1990s, a fuel shift from the use of coal in the energy industries, industry and domestic sectors to cleaner burning fuels such as gas.
  • cleaner stoves for domestic heating;
  • introduction of particle filters on new vehicles (driven by the legislative 'Euro' standards).

and for the secondary particulate matter precursors:

  • fuel switching from high-sulphur solid (e.g. coal) and liquid (e.g. heavy fuel oil) fuels to low sulphur fuels (such as natural gas) for power and heat production purposes within the 'energy industries', industry and domestic sectors;
  • the impact of European Union directives relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels;
    the introduction of flue-gas abatement techniques (e.g. flue gas desulphurisation, NOx scrubbers and selective (SCR) and selective non-catalytic (SNCR) reduction) and introduction of combustion modification technologies (such as use of low NOx burners);
  • the introduction of three way catalytic converters for petrol-fuelled cars (driven by the legislative 'Euro' standards).

Data sources

Justification for indicator selection

In recent years scientific evidence has been strengthened by many epidemiological studies that indicate there is an association between long and short-term exposure to fine particulate matter and various serious health impacts. Fine particles have adverse effects on human health and can be responsible for and/or contribute to a number of respiratory problems. Fine particles in this context refer to primary particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and emissions of secondary particulate matter precursors (NOX, SO2 and NH3). Primary PM2.5 and PM10 refers to fine particles (defined as having diameter of 2.5 µm or 10 µm or less, respectively) emitted directly to the atmosphere. Secondary particulate matter precursors are pollutants that are partly transformed into particles by photo-chemical reactions in the atmosphere. A large fraction of the urban population is exposed to levels of fine particulate matter in excess of limit values set for the protection of human health. There have been a number of recent policy initiatives that aim to control particulate concentrations and thus protect human health.

Detailed information on emissions of the secondary particulate matter precursors may also be found in the accompanying indicator fact-sheets for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ammonia.

Scientific references:

  • No rationale references available

Policy context and targets

Context description

There are no specific EU emission targets set for primary particulate matter, as with respect to PM emissions, measures are currently focused on controlling emissions of the secondary PM precursors. However, there are several Directives that affect the emissions of primary PM, including the 2008 Air Quality Directive and emission standards for specific mobile and stationary sources for primary PM10 and secondary precursor emissions.

Within the European Union, the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive) imposes emission ceilings (or limits) for emissions of the particulate matter precursors pollutants nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and ammonia that harm human health and the environment (the NEC Directive also sets emissions ceilings for a fourth pollutant - non-methane volatile organic compounds).

Other key EU legislation is targeted at reducing emissions of air pollutants from specific sources, for example:

  • transport;
  • industrial facilities and other stationary sources.

 

Internationally, the issue of air pollution emissions is also being addressed by the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (the LRTAP Convention) and its protocols. A key objective of the protocol is to regulate emissions on a regional basis within Europe and to protect eco-systems from transboundary pollution by setting emission reduction ceilings to be reached by 2010 for the same four pollutants as addressed in the NECD (i.e. SO2, NOX, NH3 and NMVOCs). Overall for the EU Member States, the ceilings set within the Gothenburg protocol are generally either slightly less strict or the same as the emission ceilings specified in the NECD.

Targets

There are presently no European national ceilings for emissions of particulate matter.

Emissions of the secondary PM precursors SO2, NOX and NH3 are covered by the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) (2001/81/EC) and the Gothenburg protocol under the United Nations Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) (UNECE 1999). The NECD generally involves slightly stricter emission reduction targets than the Gothenburg Protocol for EU-15 Member States for 2010.

Table: 2010 Targets under the NEC Directive and the Gothenburg Protocol, in kt

2010 NECD ceilings

2010 CLRTAP Gothenburg Protocol ceilings

 

NOX

SOX

NH3

NOX

SOX

NH3
Austria 103 39 66 107 39 66
Belgium 176 99 74 181 106 74
Bulgaria 247 836 108 266 856 108
Cyprus 23 39 9
Czech Republic 286 265 80 286 283 101
Denmark 127 55 69 127 55 69
Estonia 60 100 29
Finland 170 110 31 170 116 31
France 810 375 780 860 400 780
Germany 1051 520 550 1081 550 550
Greece 344 523 73 344 546 73
Hungary 198 500 90 198 550 90
Iceland*
Ireland 65 42 116 65 42 116
Italy 990 475 419 1000 500 419
Latvia 61 101 44 84 107 44
Liechtenstein 0.37 0.11 0.15
Lithuania 110 145 84 110 145 84
Luxembourg 11 4 7 11 4 7
Malta 8 9 3
Netherlands 260 50 128 266 50 128
Norway 156 22 23
Poland 879 1397 468 879 1397 468
Portugal 250 160 90 260 170 108
Romania 437 918 210 437 918 210
Slovakia 130 110 39 130 110 39
Slovenia 45 27 20 45 27 20
Spain 847 746 353 847 774 353
Switzerland 79 26 63
Sweden 148 67 57 148 67 57
Turkey*
United Kingdom 1167 585 297 1181 625 297

 

* Iceland and Turkey do not have a ceiling under either the NEC Directive or the Gothenburg protocol.

Related policy documents

  • Directive 2001/81/EC, national emission ceilings
    Directive 2001/81/EC, on nation al emissions ceilings (NECD) for certain atmospheric pollutants. Emission reduction targets for the new EU10 Member States have been specified in the Treaty of Accession to the European Union 2003  [The Treaty of Accession 2003 of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. AA2003/ACT/Annex II/en 2072] in order that they can comply with the NECD.
  • UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
    UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

This indicator is based on officially reported national total and sectoral emissions to EEA and UNECE/EMEP (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe/Co-operative programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention), submission 2011. For the EU-27 Member States, the data used is consistent with the emissions data reported by the EU in its annual submission to the LRTAP Convention.

Recommended methodologies for emission inventory estimation are compiled in the EMEP/EEA Air Pollutant Emission Inventory Guidebook, (EMEP/EEA, 2009). Base data are available from the EEA Data Service (http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/dataservice/metadetails.asp?id=1096) and the EMEP web site (http://www.ceip.at/). Where necessary, gaps in reported data are filled by ETC/ACC using simple interpolation techniques (see below). The final gap-filled data used in this indicator are available from the EEA Data Service (http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/PivotApp/pivot.aspx?pivotid=478).

Base data, reported in the UNECE/EMEP Nomenclature for Reporting (NFR) sector format are aggregated into the following EEA sector codes to obtain a consistent reporting format across all countries and pollutants:

  • Energy production and distribution: emissions from public heat and electricity generation, oil refining,  production of solid fuels, extraction and distribution of solid fossil fuels and geothermal energy;
  • Energy use in industry: emissions from combustion processes used in the manufacturing industry including boilers, gas turbines and stationary engines;
  • Industrial processes: emissions derived from non-combustion related processes such as the production of minerals, chemicals and metal production;
  • Road transport: light and heavy duty vehicles, passenger cars and motorcycles;
  • Non-road transport: railways, domestic shipping, certain aircraft movements, and non-road mobile machinery used in agriculture & forestry;
  • Commercial, institutional and households: emissions principally occurring from fuel combustion in the services and household sectors;
  • Solvent and product use: non-combustion related emissions mainly in the services and households sectors including activities such as paint application, dry-cleaning and other use of solvents;
  • Agriculture: manure management, fertiliser application, field-burning of agricultural wastes
  • Waste: incineration, waste-water management;
  • Other: emissions included in national total for entire territory not allocated to any other sector

 

The following table shows the conversion of Nomenclature for Reporting (NFR) sector codes used for reporting by countries into EEA sector codes:

EEA classification

Non-GHGs (NFR)

 

National totals

National total

 

Energy production and distribution

1A1, 1A3e, 1B

 

Energy use in industry

1A2

 

Road transport

1A3b

 

Non-road transport (non-road mobile machinery)

1A3 (exl 1A3b)

 

Industrial processes

2

 

Solvent and product use

3

Agriculture

4

 

Waste

6

 

Commercial, institutional and households

1A4ai, 1A4aii, 1A4bi, 1A4bii, 1A4ci, 1A4cii, 1A5a, 1A5b

Other

7

 

Methodology for gap filling

An improved gap-filling methodology was implemented in 2010 that enables a complete time series trend for the main air pollutants (eg NOX, SOX, NMVOC, NH3 and CO) to be compiled. In cases where countries did not report emissions for any year, it meant that gap-filling could not be applied. For these pollutants, therefore, the aggregated data are not yet complete and are likely to underestimate true emissions. Further methodological details of the gap-filling procedure are provided in section 1.4.2 Data gaps and gap-filling of the European Union emission inventory report 1990–2009 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP).

Methodology references

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

The use of gap-filling for when countries have not reported emissions for one of more years can potentially lead to artificial trends, but it is considered unavoidable if a comprehensive and comparable set of emissions data for European countries is required for policy analysis purposes.

Data sets uncertainty

Primary PM2.5 and PM10 data is of relatively higher uncertainty compared to emission estimates for the secondary PM precursors. The contribution of secondary particulate matter precursor emissions to PM formation varies considerably across different emission sources and geographical region (meteorology etc).

Overall scoring: (1-3, 1=no major problems, 3=major reservations)

  • Relevancy: 1
  • Accuracy: 2
  • Comparability over time: 2
  • Comparability over space: 2

Rationale uncertainty

This indicator is regularly updated by EEA and is used in state of the environment assessments. The uncertainties related to methodology and data sets are therefore of importance.

More information about this indicator

See this indicator specification for more details.

Contacts and ownership

EEA Contact Info

Martin Adams

Ownership

EEA Management Plan

2010 1.1.2 (note: EEA internal system)

Dates

First draft created:
Oct 22, 2010 12:36 PM
Publish date:
Oct 25, 2010 12:50 PM
Last modified:
Sep 12, 2011 05:58 PM
Document Actions

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