Twelve States breach emissions limits, according to final 2010 NEC data

Twelve EU Member States exceeded air pollutant limits in 2010 under the National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NEC). In 2011, these limits were breached by eight Member States, provisional data shows. The limits cover four pollutants - nitrogen oxides (NOX), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ammonia (NH3).

The NOx limit was the most commonly breached - analysis of the official 'final' 2010 data confirms eleven Member States exceeded their respective NOX ceilings for that year. Provisional data shows seven of these Member States continued to breach this ceiling in 2011, in some instances by significant amounts. High levels of NOx were largely caused by road transport.

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