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EEA32 Heavy metal (HM) emissions (APE 005) - Assessment published Feb 2010
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Across the EEA-32 countries, emissions of lead have decreased by 88%, mercury by 57% and lead by cadmium by 56% between 1990 and 2007. For each substance, the most significant sources in 2007 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 more than 70% of total emissions, emissions from the road transport sector decreased since then by more than 95%. Nevertheless, the road transport sector still remains an important source of lead, contributing around 25% of total lead emission in the EEA-32 region. However over the last 5 year period 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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EEA32 Heavy metal (HM) emissions
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EEA32 Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions (APE 006) - Assessment published Feb 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), an important group of chemicals categorised as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have decreased by 63% between 1990 and 2007. While the majority of individual countries report PAH emissions have fallen during this period, eight countries report increased emissions have occurred.
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.
In 2007, the most significant source of PAHs was the 'other energy' sector accounting for 41% of total PAH emissions. This sector comprises emissions caused by fuel combustion mainly from the residential, commercial and institutional buildings sectors.
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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EEA32 Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions
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Emissions of acidifying substances (version 1) (CSI 001) - Assessment published Dec 2006
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Emissions of acidifying gases have decreased significantly in most EEA member countries. Between 1990 and 2004, emissions decreased by 46% in the EU-15 and by 62% in the EU-10, despite increased economic activity (GDP).
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Emissions of acidifying substances (version 1)
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Emissions of acidifying substances (version 1) (CSI 001) - Assessment published Mar 2008
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Aggregated emissions of acidifying gases (NH 3 , NO x , SO 2 ) have decreased significantly in most EEA member countries between 1990 and 2005 (Figure 1) despite increased economic activity (GDP) occurring during this period. However, meeting the 2010 NO x emission ceilings is likely to be a problem for a number of countries. Emissions in the EU-15 Member States decreased by 47% since 1990 from 1 025 kt to 539 kt (Figure 2). The EU-15 is well on track on meeting its overall 2010 NECD target for acidifying pollutants. Between 1900 and 2005 emissions of acidifying pollutants in the new EU-12 countries declined significantly from 503 kt to 206 kt, a reduction of 59% (Figure 3). The new EU-12 is also on track on meeting its overall 2010 NECD target for acidifying substances.
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Emissions of acidifying substances (version 1)
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Emissions of acidifying substances (version 2) (CSI 001) - Assessment published Jan 2010
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Aggregated emissions of acidifying pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NO x ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and ammonia (NH 3 ) have decreased significantly in most of the EEA member countries between 1990 and 2007. This decrease has been achieved despite the increased rates of economic activity that have occurred during this period. Across the EEA-32 region, emissions of acidifying pollutants decreased from 1 545 kt to 775 kt between 1990 and 2007 - a 50% reduction. The EU-27 as a whole is on track to meet its target to reduce emissions from acidifying pollutants based on an aggregation of its NEC Directive ceilings for the three individual pollutants. However, a number of individual Member States anticipate missing their emission ceilings for one or more of the individual acidifying pollutants.
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Emissions of acidifying substances (version 2)
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Emissions of ozone precursors (CSI 002) - Assessment published Jan 2010
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The aggregated emissions of ground-level ozone precursor pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NO x ), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH 4 )) have decreased by 39% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2007. This decrease has been achieved mainly as a result of the introduction of catalytic converters for vehicles and to a lesser extent by a switch from petrol-fuelled cars to more diesel cars. Together these changes have significantly reduced emissions of NO x and CO from the road transport sector, the main source of ozone precursor emissions. The EU-27 is still some way from meeting its target to reduce emissions of two ozone precursors (NO x and NMVOC) for which emission limits exist under the NEC Directive. A number of individual Member States anticipate missing their ceilings for one or either of these two pollutants.
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Emissions of ozone precursors
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors (CSI 003) - Assessment published Jan 2010
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Total emissions of primary particulate matter (PM 10 ) and secondary particulate precursors (nitrogen oxides (NO x ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and ammonia (NH 3 )) have reduced by 45% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2007. Of this reduction, 41% has taken place in the 'energy industries' 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 PM 10 particulate matter make only a small contribution to total particulate matter formation (12%) in 2007. The majority of particulate matter is formed from emissions of the secondary particulate precursors. Of the particulate-forming pollutants, reductions of SO 2 that have taken place since 1990 have accounted for 60% of the overall reduction in particulate emissions, with NO x accounting for a further 30% of the observed reduction. The reduction in emissions of primary particles has accounted for only 6% of the overall reduction.
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Emissions of primary particles and secondary particulate matter precursors
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Exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone (version 1) (CSI 005) - Assessment published Nov 2005
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Eutrophication has fallen slightly since 1980. However, only limited further improvement is expected by 2010 with current plans. There have been clear reductions in acidification of Europe's environment since 1980, but with some tailing off in that improvement after 2000. Most agricultural crops are exposed to ozone levels exceeding the EU long term objective and a significant fraction is exposed to levels above the target value. AOT40 values showed an increasing tendency over the last years.
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Exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone (version 1)
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Contribution to total change in PM10 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries)
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The contribution made by each sector to the total change in primary PM10 particulate matter emission between 1990 and 2008.
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Contributions by sector for emissions of acidifying pollutants (EEA member countries)
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The contribution made by different sectors to emissions of acidifying pollutants
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