Air pollution

Emission trends of ozone-precursor pollutants (EEA member countries, EU-27)

This chart shows past emission trends of nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compunds (NMVOC), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) in the EEA-32 and EU-27 group of countries. In addition - for the EU-27 - the aggregated Member State 2010 emission ceilings for NOx and NMVOC are shown.

Change in CO emissions 1990-2009 (EEA member countries)

The reported change in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions for each country, 1990-2009.

Sector contributions of ozone precursor emissions (EEA member countries)

The contribution made by different sectors to emissions of the tropospheric (ground-level) ozone precursors.

Change in CH4 emissions 1990-2009 (EEA member countries)

The reported change in methane (CH4) emissions for each country, 1990-2009.

Change in CO emissions for each sector 1990-2009 (EEA member countries)

Percentage change in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2009.

Change in CH4 emissions for each sector 1990-2009 (EEA member countries)

Percentage change in methane (CH4) emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2009.

Contribution to total change in CH4 emissions for each sector (EEA member countries)

The contribution made by each sector to the total change in methane (CH4) emissions between 1990 and 2009.

Contribution to total change in CO emissions for each sector (EEA member countries)

The contribution made by each sector to the total change in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions between 1990 and 2009.

Changes (%) in emissions of ozone precursors by sector, 1990-2009, EEA-32

The figure shows the emissions methane CH4; carbon monoxide CO; non-methane volatile organic compounds NMVOCs; and nitrogen oxides NOx.

Contribution of different sectors (energy and non-energy) to total emissions of SO2, NOx, NH3, 2009, EEA-32

The figue shows the contribution of different sectors (energy and non-energy) to total emissions of SO2, NOx and NH3

Changes (%) in energy related emissions of pollutants contributing to acid deposition by source category, 2005-2009, EEA32

The figure shows the emissions of asulphur dioxide SO2, nitrogen oxides NOx and ammonia NH3. Energy combustion’ includes all energy-related emissions.

Overall change in energy related emissions of SO2, NOx and NH3 by country, 2005-2009

Emissions of NH3 have been omitted from the graph. Total emissions of NH3 have significantly increased but only contribute a very small amount to energy related emissions.

Contribution of different sectors (energy and non-energy) to total emissions of PM10 and PM2.5, 2009, EEA-32

The graph includes the combined emissions of primary PM10 particles (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less, emitted directly into the atmosphere).

Changes (%) in energy related emissions of primary PM10 and PM2.5 by source category, 2005-2009, EEA-32

‘Energy combustion’ includes all energy-related emissions minus fugitives the graph shows the emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less, emitted directly into the atmosphere)

Attainment situation for PM2.5, reference years 2010, 2005, 2001

The graphs are based on the annual mean concentration values; they present the range of concentrations at all station types (in μg/m3) officially reported by the EU Member States and how the concentrations relate to the target value set by EU legislation (marked by the red line). The diagram indicates the lowest and highest observations, the means and the lower and upper quartiles. The lower quartile splits the lowest 25 % of the data and the upper quartile splits the highest 25 % of the data.

Trend in PM10 (left graph, 2001–2010) and PM2.5 (right graph, 2005–2010) concentrations per station type

All stations in EU Member States, with at least 75 % data coverage for at least eight years (PM10) or six years (PM2.5), were included in the analysis. Concentrations per station type are given in μg/m3. In the diagrams a geographical bias exists towards central Europe where there is a higher density of stations.

Urban PM2.5 concentrations presented as multi-annual average in the EU, 2008–2010

The three-year running mean of PM2.5 concentrations (2008–2010) is similar to the method used to calculate the average exposure indicator. Compiled data reflects background (non-traffic and non-industrial) urban and suburban stations. Results for countries marked with an asterisk are based on less than three years of data. The orange dots correspond to figures provided by the EU Member States in the air quality questionnaire.

Attainment situation for O3, reference years 2010, 2005 and 2001

The graphs are based on the 93.2 percentile of maximum daily 8 hours mean concentration values corresponding to the 26th highest daily maximum of the running 8h-mean; they present the range of concentrations at all station types (in μg/m3) officially reported by the EU Member States and how the concentrations relate to the target value set by EU legislation (marked by the red line). The diagram indicates the lowest and highest observations, the means and the lower and upper quartiles. The lower quartile splits the lowest 25 % of the data and the upper quartile splits the highest 25 % of the data.

Trend in annual mean of daily max 8 h-mean O3 concentrations (left) and trend in 93.2 percentile of daily 8 max h-mean O3 concentrations (right) (in μg/m3) for 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 diagrams a geographical bias exists towards central Europe where there is a higher density of stations. The 93.2 percentile of daily max 8-h mean values is directly related to the target value for O3, as 25 days per year are allowed to have exceedances of the target value threshold of 120 μg/m3.

Attainment situation for NO2, reference years 2010, 2005, 2001

The graphs are based on the annual mean concentration values; they present the range of concentrations at all station types (in μg/m3) officially reported by the EU Member States and how the concentrations relate to the limit value set by EU legislation (marked by the red line). The diagram indicates the lowest and highest observations, the means and the lower and upper quartiles. The lower quartile splits the lowest 25 % of the data and the upper quartile splits the highest 25 % of the data.

Attainment situation for SO2, reference years 2010, 2005, 2001

The graphs are based on the 99.2 percentile of daily mean concentration values corresponding to the 4th highest daily mean; they present the range of concentrations at all station types (in μg/m3) officially reported by the EU Member States and how the concentrations relate to the limit value set by EU legislation (marked by the red line). The diagram indicates the lowest and highest observations, the means and the lower and upper quartiles. The lower quartile splits the lowest 25 % of the data and the upper quartile splits the highest 25 % of the data.

Average of the annual mean concentrations of Pb reported by monitoring stations in eight countries, 2001–2010

-

Trend in NO2 and NOX annual mean concentrations (2001–2010) per station type (top); percentage frequency distribution of estimated annual change of NO2 annual mean concentrations at urban stations and at traffic stations (bottom)

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 top two diagrams a geographical bias exists towards central Europe where there is a higher density of stations. In the percentage frequency distribution graphs, closed bars denote stations showing a statistically significant trend, open bars denote stations with a non-significant trend. Statistically significant trends (level of significance 0.1) are calculated by applying the Mann-Kendall test. The applied method is described in de Leeuw, 2012.

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.

Total CO emissions (Gg/year = 1 000 tonnes/year) and contributions of the main sources in the EU

-

Distance-to-target graph for the benzo(a)pyrene target value, 2010

The graph shows the percentage frequency distribution of stations (on the y-axis) in the EU Member States versus the various concentration classes (on the x-axis, in ng/m3). The vertical line corresponds to the target value set by the EU legislation.

Distance-to-target graph for the benzene limit value, 2010

The graph shows the percentage frequency distribution of stations (on the y-axis) in the EU Member States versus the various concentration classes (on the x-axis, in µg/m3). The vertical line corresponds to the limit value set by the EU legislation.

Distance-to-target graphs for the daily (top) and hourly (bottom) limit values of SO2 for health protection, 2010

The graphs show the percentage frequency distribution of stations (on the y-axis) in the EU Member States versus the various concentration classes (on the x-axis, in µg/m3). Vertical lines correspond to the limit values set by the EU legislation.

Distance-to-target graph for the CO limit value, 2010

The graph shows the percentage frequency distribution of stations (on the y-axis) in the EU Member States versus the various concentration classes (on the x-axis, in mg/m3). The vertical line corresponds to the limit value set by the EU legislation.

Distance-to-target graphs for the annual (top) and hourly (bottom) NO2 limit value, for different station types, 2010

The graphs show the percentage frequency distribution of stations (on the y-axis) in the EU Member States versus the various concentration classes (on the x-axis, in µg/m3). Vertical lines correspond to target or threshold values set by the EU legislation.