Data on emissions of air pollutants (NH3, NMVOC, NOX, SO2) reported annually by Member States to the European Commission (with copies to EEA) under Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on National Emission Ceilings for certain pollutants.
Interpolated maps showing air quality in Europe. The dataset has been reorganised in order to improve data harmonization among years and to facilitate storage and processing of the interpolated maps for the EEA data services.
The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) is a web-based register established by Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 which implements the UNECE PRTR Protocol, signed in May 2003 in Kiev.
The map shows the annual mean concentrations of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) in Europe based on daily averages with at least 75% of valid measurements, in µg/m3 (source: EEA, AirBase v.7).
The map shows annual mean concentrations of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in Europe based on daily averages with at least 75% of valid measurements, in µg/m3 (source: EEA, AirBase v.7)
The map shows the annual mean concentrations of Benzene (C6H6) in Europe for the air quality stations with at least 50% of valid measurements, in µg/m3 (source: EEA, AirBase v.7).
Graph showing progression of average emissions for new cars versus 2015 and 2020 targets
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Between 2009 and 2010, all air pollutant emissions from transport, except NOx, decreased (ranging between 2.5 % and 10 %). During the period 1990 to 2010, the main pollutants that contribute to acidification and particulate and ozone formation have shown a decreasing trend in emissions in the EEA‑32 (with fluctuations in some years). The largest percentage decreases over this period have been for CO (76 %) and non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) (75 %). However, increases in shipping activity since 1990 have offset some of the reductions elsewhere, in particular for SOx, but also for NOx and PM. International shipping currently contributes to nearly 87 % of all transport SOx emissions. The rise of road freight transport explaines most of the increase in NOx in 2010.
Total emissions of primary sub-10µm particulate matter (PM 10 ) have reduced by 26% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2010, driven by a 28% reduction in emissions of the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) fraction. Emissions of particulates between 2.5 and 10 µm have reduced by 21% over the same period; the difference of this trend to that of PM 2.5 is due to significantly increased emissions in the 2.5 to 10 µm fraction from 'Road transport' and 'Agriculture' (of 50% and 15% respectively) since 1990.
Of this reduction in PM 10 emissions, 39% has taken place in the 'Energy Production and Distribution' sector due to factors including the fuel-switching from coal to natural gas for electricity generation and improvements in the performance of pollution abatement equipment installed at industrial facilities.
The contribution made by each sector to the total change in primary PM10 particulate matter emission between 1990 and 2010.
The contribution made by each sector to the total change in primary PM2.5 particulate matter emissions between 1990 and 2010.
Emissions of the main ground-level ozone precursor pollutants have decreased across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2010; nitrogen oxides (NO X ) by 42%, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) by 53%, carbon monoxide (CO) by 61%, and methane (CH 4 ) by 32%.
This decrease has been achieved mainly as a result of the introduction of catalytic converters for vehicles, which has significantly reduced emissions of NO X and CO from the road transport sector, the main source of ozone precursor emissions.
The EU-27 as a whole has not met its 2010 target to reduce emissions of NO X , one of the two ozone precursors (NO X and NMVOC) for which emission limits exist under the EU's NEC Directive (NECD). Whilst total NMVOC emissions in the EU-27 were below the NECD limit in 2010, a number of individual Member States did not meet their ceilings for one or both of these two pollutants.
Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings for 2010 set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), all reported NMVOC emissions in 2010 that were lower than their respective ceilings, however Liechtenstein and Norway reported NO X emissions higher than their ceiling for 2010.
Tool for exploring up-to-date unvalidated data on ground level ozone
The air pollutant emissions data viewer (LRTAP Convention) provides access of the data contained in the Annual European Union LRTAP Convention emission inventory report 1990-2010.
The air pollutant emissions data viewer (NEC Directive) provides access of the data contained in the NEC Directive status report 2012.
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