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Zone exceedances of the daily SO2 limit value, 2005: Zone exceedances of the daily SO2 limit value, 2005, reported under Annual report (questionnaire) on air quality assessment and management (2004/461/EC).
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Sulphur dioxide SO2 emissions (APE 001) - Assessment published Dec 2011: EEA-32 emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) have decreased by 76% between 1990 and 2009. In 2009, the most significant sectoral source of SO X emissions was Energy production and distribution (70%), followed by emissions occurring from Energy use in industry (13%) and in the Commercial, institutional and households (9%) sector. The reduction in emissions since 1990 has been achieved as a result of a combination of measures, including fuel-switching in energy-related sectors away from high sulphur-containing solid and liquid fuels to low sulphur fuels such as natural gas, the fitting of flue gas desulphurisation abatement technology in industrial facilities and the impact of European Union directives relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels. All of the EU-27 Member States have already reduced their national SO X emissions below the level of the 2010 emission ceilings set in the National Emission Ceilings Directive (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 also below the level of the respective 2010 ceilings. Environmental context: Sulphur dioxide is emitted when fuels containing sulphur are combusted. It is a pollutant which contributes to acid deposition which in turn can lead to potential changes occurring in soil and water quality. 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. SO X emissions also contribute as a secondary particulate pollutant to formation of particulate matter in the atmosphere, an important air pollutant in terms of its adverse impact on human health.
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Distance-to-target for EEA member countries: The distance-to-target indicator shows how current emissions compare to a linear emission reduction 'target-path' between 2010 emission levels and the 2020 Gothenburg 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 2020.
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Sector share of sulphur oxides emissions - 2010 (EEA member countries): The contribution made by different sectors to emissions of sulphur dioxide
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Trend in average annual SO2 concentrations (2001–2010) per station type: All stations in EU Member States, with at least 75 % data coverage for at least eight years were included in the analysis. Concentrations per station type are given in μg/m3. In the diagram a geographical bias exists towards central Europe where there is a higher density of stations.
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Sulphur dioxide SO2 emissions (APE 001) - Assessment published Dec 2012: EEA-32 emissions of sulphur oxides (SO X ) have decreased by 75% between 1990 and 2010. In 2010, the most significant sectoral source of SO X emissions was 'Energy production and distribution' (57% of total emissions), followed by emissions occurring from 'Energy use in industry' (21%) and in the 'Commercial, institutional and households' (14%) sector. The reduction in emissions since 1990 has been achieved as a result of a combination of measures, including fuel-switching in energy-related sectors away from high-sulphur solid and liquid fuels to low-sulphur fuels such as natural gas, the fitting of flue gas desulphurisation abatement technology in industrial facilities and the impact of European Union directives relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels. All of the EU-27 Member States have reduced their national SO X emissions below the level of the 2010 emission ceilings set in the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) [1] . Emissions in 2010 for the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) were also below the level of their respective 2010 ceilings. Environmental context: Sulphur dioxide is emitted when fuels containing sulphur are combusted. It is a pollutant which contributes to acid deposition which in turn can lead to changes occurring in soil and water quality. 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. SO 2 emissions also aggravate asthma conditions and can reduce lung function and inflame the respiratory tract, and contribute as a secondary particulate pollutant to formation of particulate matter in the atmosphere, an important air pollutant in terms of its adverse impact on human health. Further, the formation of sulphate particles in the atmosphere after its release results in reflection of solar radiation, which leads to net cooling of the atmosphere. [1] Emissions data reported by EU member states under NECD is used for comparison with NECD ceilings, and data reported under CLRTAP is used for all other calculations unless otherwise stated.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Sulphur dioxide SO2 emissions
NEC Directive status report 2011: Reporting by the Member States under Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants
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Plant-by-plant emissions of SO2, NOx and dust and energy input of large combustion plants covered by Directive 2001/80/EC: The Directive on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants (LCP Directive, 2001/80/EC) applies to combustion plants with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 50 MW, irrespective of the type of fuel used (solid, liquid or gaseous)
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Environment and our health: Located in Environmental topics › Environment and health › Multimedia
Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas (CSI 004) - Assessment published May 2012: Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) In the period 1997-2009, 18-49 % of the urban population in EU-27 was potentially exposed to ambient air concentrations of particulate matter (PM 10 ) in excess of the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (50 microgram/m 3 daily mean not to be exceeded more than 35 days a calendar year and to be met by 2005). There was no discernible trend over the period (Figure 1). Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) In the period 1997-2009, 6-41 % of the urban population in EU-27 was potentially exposed to ambient air nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentrations above the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (40 microgram NO 2 /m 3 annual mean and to be met by 2010). There was a slight downwards trend over the period (Figure 1). Ozone (O 3 ) In the period 1997-2009, 13-61 % of the urban population in EU-27 was potentially exposed to ambient ozone concentrations exceeding the EU target value set for the protection of human health (120 microgram O 3 /m 3 daily maximum 8-hourly average, not to be exceeded more than 25 times a calendar year by 2010, averaged over three years and to be achieved where possible by 2010). The 61 % of the urban population exposed to ambient ozone concentrations over the EU target value was recorded in 2003. There was no discernible trend over the period (Figure 1). Sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) In the period 1997-2009, the fraction of the urban population in EU-27 that is potentially exposed to ambient air concentrations of sulphur dioxide in excess of the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (125 microgram SO 2 /m 3 daily mean not to be exceeded more than three days a year and to be met by 2005), decreased to less than 1 %, and as such the EU limit value is close to being met everywhere in the urban background (Figure 1).
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