Emissions of air pollutants from transport

Indicator Assessment
Prod-ID: IND-112-en
Also known as: TERM 003
expired Created 02 Dec 2010 Published 12 Jan 2011 Last modified 11 Sep 2015
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With the exception of NH 3 , transport related emissions of all main contributors to acidification and particulate and ozone formation (CO, CH 4 , NH 3 , NO x , NMVOCs, SO x and primary particulates (PM 10 and PM 2.5 )) decreased in the EEA-32 between 1990 and 2008. The maximum of transport related NH 3 emissions in the EEA-32 was reached in 2000. NH 3 contributes to both acidification and particulate formation.

Key messages

With the exception of NH3, transport related emissions of all main contributors to acidification and particulate and ozone formation (CO, CH4, NH3, NOx, NMVOCs, SOx and primary particulates (PM10 and PM2.5)) decreased in the EEA-32 between 1990 and 2008. The maximum of transport related NH3 emissions in the EEA-32 was reached in 2000. NH3 contributes to both acidification and particulate formation.

Are emissions of acidifying substances, particulates and ozone precursors from transport decreasing?

Transport emissions of acidifying substances in EEA member countries

Transport emissions of acidifying substances in EEA member countries

Note: Transport emissions of acidifying substances (NOx, SOx, NH3) in EEA member countries. The transport emissions data include all of road transport and other transport/mobile sources, less the memo items, which include international aviation (LTO (Landing and Take Off) and cruise) and international marine (international sea traffic- bunkers).

Data source:
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Transport emissions of primary and secondary particulates in EEA member countries

Transport emissions of primary and secondary particulates in EEA member countries

Note: Transport emissions of emissions of primary and secondary particulates (NH3, NOx, PM10, PM2.5, SOx) in EEA member countries. The transport emissions data include all of road transport and other transport/mobile sources, less the memo items, which include international aviation (LTO (Landing and Take Off) and cruise) and international marine (international sea traffic- bunkers).

Data source:
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Transport emissions of ozone precursors in EEA member countries

Transport emissions of ozone precursors in EEA member countries

Note: Transport emissions of ozone precursors (CH4, CO, NMVOC, NOx) in EEA member countries. The transport emissions data include all of road transport and other transport/mobile sources, less the memo items, which include international aviation (LTO (Landing and Take Off) and cruise) and international marine (international sea traffic- bunkers).

Data source:
Downloads and more info

Acidifying substances

In the EEA-32 transport emissions of SOx and NOx were reduced by 68 and 32 % respectively between 1990 and 2008. The introduction of both catalytic converters and reduced sulphur in fuels has contributed substantially to this reduction, offsetting the pressure from increased road traffic in the same period. For the EEA-32 NH3 emissions from transport contributed only 2 % to total NH3 emissions in 2008. However, transport related NH3 emissions increased by 330 % in the EEA-32 between 1990 and. The NH3 emissions from road transport, have been rising as a result of the increasing use of three-way catalytic converters in the vehicle fleet (this is due to an unwanted reaction involving hydrogen which reduces NO to NH3). However, emissions are projected to fall in the future as the second generation of catalysts (which emit lower levels of NH3 than the first generation catalysts) penetrate the vehicle fleet.
The EU-27 contributed 89, 87 and 96 % to transport related NOx, SOx and NH3 emissions of the EEA-32.

Ozone precursors

Within the group of the ozone precursors (CH4, NOx, NMVOC and CO) transport emissions of all pollutants decreased (64, 32, 72 and 71 % respectively) in the EEA-32 between 1990 and 2008. Reductions have occurred mainly because of increasing prevalence of catalytic converters for road vehicles and as a result of tightening of EU regulations on new vehicle emissions limits.
The EU-27 contributed 87, 89, 82 and 89 % to transport related CH4,CO, NMVOC and NOx emissions of the EEA-32.

Particulate matter

The secondary inorganic particulates (NOx, SOx and NH3) precursors are the same as the acidifying substances. Their trends are described above. In the EEA-32 transport emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 were reduced by 21 and 31 % respectively between 1990 and 2008. Particulate filters contributed to the reduction of primary particulates from transport.
The EU-27 contributed 97 and 98 % to transport related PM10 and PM2.5 emissions of the EEA-32.

Indicator specification and metadata

Indicator definition

This indicator is based on the emissions trend assessment of CO, NOx, NMVOCs, SOx and primary particulates. 

Units

Emissions are expressed as the percentage over 1990 levels (PM as percentage over 2000 levels).


Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

This indicator analyses the emissions of CO, NOx, NMVOCs, PM10, PM2.5 and SOx over time from transport. These pollutants can be grouped into acidifying substances, particulates and ozone precursors. Transport contributes significantly to emissions of NOx, NMVOCs, PM and CO. NOx contributes to acidification, formation of ground level ozone and particulate formation.

Acidifying substances: Acidification of soils and waters is caused by emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and ammonia (NH3) into the atmosphere, and their subsequent chemical reactions and deposition on ecosystems and materials. The deposition of acidifying substances causes damage to ecosystems, buildings and materials (corrosion).

Particulate Formation: Airborne particulate matter (PM) has adverse effects on human health and can be responsible for and/or contribute to a number of respiratory problems. In this assessment, 'particulate formation' refers to primary emissions of PM10, PM2.5 and emissions of precursors (NOx, SOx and NH3), which lead to the secondary physico-chemical production of inorganic particulate matter in the atmosphere (secondary PM). A large fraction of the urban population is exposed to levels of fine particulate matter in excess of air quality limit values set for the protection of human health.

Ozone precursors: Emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) contribute to the formation of ground-level (tropospheric) ozone, which has adverse effects on human health and ecosystems.

Scientific references

  • No rationale references available

Policy context and targets

Context description

Directive 2008/50/EC (EC, 2008) sets limit values for the atmospheric concentrations of the main pollutants, including sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), airborne particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), lead, carbon monoxide (CO), benzene and ozone (O3) for EU Member States. These limits are related to transport implicitly, but the introduction of progressively stricter Euro emission standards and fuel quality standards has led to substantial reductions in air pollutant emissions. Policies aimed at reducing fuel consumption in the transport sector, in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions, may also help to further reduce air pollutant emissions.


Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey are not members of the European Union and hence have no emission ceilings set under the revised National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) 2016/2284/EU. As well as most of the EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland have ratified the 1999 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (UNECE Trend in emissions of air pollutants from transport in EEA-33 LRTAP) Gothenburg Protocol, which required them to reduce their emissions to the agreed ceiling specified in the protocol by 2010. Liechtenstein has also signed, but has not ratified the protocol.

Targets

Both the NECD and the Gothenburg protocol set reduction targets for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds and ammonia for the EEA-33 member countries. There are substantial differences in emission ceilings, and hence, emission reduction percentages for different countries, due to the different sensitivities of the ecosystems affected and the technical feasibility of making reductions.

Related policy documents

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

For air pollutants, officially reported data to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP)/LRTAP have been used. According to reporting requirements, emission figures for all pollutants are available from 1990, and for PM2.5, PM10 and TSP from 2000.

Methodology for gap filling

Where a complete time series of emission data has not been reported, data have been gap-filled according to the EEA's European Topic Centre for Air and Climate Change (ETC/ACC) methodologies. Details of the gap-filling procedure for the air pollutant data set are described in the European Union emission inventory report 1990–2008 under the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) (EEA Technical Report No 7/2010).

Methodology references

  • EC emission inventory report European Community emission inventory report 1990-2015 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) , EEA Technical report No 9/2017.

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Interpolation/extrapolation procedures are used for gap-filling of the underlying emission dataset.

Data sets uncertainty

The quantification of uncertainty in the European Union LRTAP emissions inventory requires that Member States provide detailed underpinning information on emissions uncertainties.

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified

Data sources

Metadata

Topics:

information.png Tags:
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DPSIR: Pressure
Typology: Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
Indicator codes
  • TERM 003
Temporal coverage:
information.png Geographic coverage:

Countries

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Dates

First draft created:
02 Dec 2010, 02:34 PM
Publish date:
12 Jan 2011, 12:00 AM
Last modified:
11 Sep 2015, 12:46 PM

Frequency of updates

Updates are scheduled once per year

EEA Contact Info

Federico Antognazza
Document Actions

For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/transport-emissions-of-air-pollutants-8/transport-emissions-of-air-pollutants-7 or scan the QR code.

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