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Emissions of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) decreased between 1990 and 2016 in the EEA-33, e.g. hexachlorobenzene (HCB) by 95 %, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by 75 %, dioxins and furans by around 70 % and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by 83 %. Although the majority of countries report that POP emissions fell during this period, some report that emissions increased. In 2016, the most significant sources of emissions for these POPs included the ‘Commercial, institutional and households’ (23 % of HCB, 26 % of dioxins and furans, 36 % of PAHs and 16 % of PCBs) and ‘Industrial processes and product use’ (41 % of HCB, 65 % of PCBs and 40 % of PAHs) sectors.
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Across the EEA-33 countries, emissions of lead decreased by 93 %, mercury by 71 % and cadmium by 64 % between 1990 and 2016. The majority of the decrease in lead emissions occurred by 2004 mainly as a result of the phase out of leaded petrol across Europe. The largest emission source presently is 'Energy use in industry', contributing around one-third of total emissions. Since 1990 the two sectors contributing most to the decrease in mercury emissions are 'Energy use in industry' and 'Industrial processes and product use'.
Anthropogenic emissions of the main air pollutants decreased significantly in most EEA member countries between 1990 and 2016: emissions of nitrogen oxides decreased by 54 % (58 % in the EU-28); emissions of sulphur oxides decreased by 82 % (91 % in the EU-28); emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds decreased by 57 % (62 % in the EU-28); emissions of ammonia decreased by 17 % (23 % in the EU-28); emissions of fine particulate matter decreased by 28 % (28 % in the EU-28) from 2000. The EU-28 met its continuing obligation to maintain emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ammonia and non-methane volatile organic compounds below legally binding targets, as specified by the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Some individual EU Member States reported emissions that were above their NECD emission ceilings and two additional EEA member countries (Norway and Switzerland) reported emissions above their Gothenburg Protocol emission ceilings. Emission reduction commitments for 2020 and 2030 have been set under the NECD, and for 2020 under the revised Gothenburg Protocol. The EU-28 as a whole is on track to meet its future reduction commitments.
In the EU-28, critical loads for acidification were exceeded in 7 % of the ecosystem area in 2010, down from 43 % in 1980. The figure also decreased to 7 % of the ecosystem area across all EEA member countries. There are still some areas where the interim objective for reducing acidification, as defined in the EU's National Emission Ceilings Directive, has not been met. The EU-28 ecosystem area in which the critical loads for eutrophication were exceeded peaked at 84 % in 1990 and decreased to 63 % in 2010 (55 % in the EEA member countries). The area in exceedance is projected to further decrease to 54 % in 2020 for the EU-28 (48 % in the EEA member countries), assuming current legislation is implemented. The magnitude of the exceedances is also projected to decline considerably in most areas, except for a few 'hot spot' areas in western France and the border areas between Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as in northern Italy. Looking ahead, only 4 % of the EU-28 ecosystem area (3 % in EEA member countries) is projected to exceed acidification critical loads in 2020 if current legislation is fully implemented. The eutrophication reduction target set in the updated EU air pollution strategy proposed by the European Commission in late 2013, will be met by 2030 if it is assumed that all maximum technically feasible reduction measures are implemented, but it will not be met by current legislation. For ozone, most of Europe's vegetation and agricultural crops are exposed to ozone levels that exceed the long term objective specified in the EU's Air Quality Directive. A significant fraction is also exposed to levels above the target value threshold defined in the directive. The effect-related concentrations show large year-to-year variations. Over the period 1996-2015, the concentrations observed at rural background stations increased until 2006, after which it decreased. After a six-year period (2009-2014) of relatively low values, the fraction of agricultural crops exposed to levels above the target value increased again to 30 % in 2015. However, at the low end of the exposure spectrum there was an increase in the area with levels below the long-term objective from 15 % (2014) to 21 % (2015). During the past 5 years, around 58-62 % of the forest area was exposed to ozone concentrations above the critical level set by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) for the protection of forests.
Air quality in Europe has improved over the last decade as a direct result of targeted policies and technological improvements. However, between 2014 and 2016, a significant proportion of the urban population in the EU-28 was still exposed to concentrations of certain air pollutants that were above EU limit or target values. The numbers of people exposed were even higher in relation to the more stringent World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline values set for the protection of human health. For fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), 6-8 % of the urban population were exposed to concentrations in excess of the EU limit value, while 74-85 % were exposed to concentrations above the WHO guideline value. For particulate matter (PM 10 ), the respective exposure estimates were 13-16 % for the EU limit value and 42-52% for the WHO guideline value. For ozone (O 3 ), estimates were 7-30 % for the EU target value and 95-98 % for the WHO guideline value. For nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), estimates were 7-8 % in both cases (EU limit value and WHO guideline).
Europe aims to have a strong, growing and low-carbon industry with closed material cycles. Currently, industry remains a significant source of pollutant releases to Europe’s environment. Releases of pollutants to air and water by European industry have generally decreased during the last decade. Environmental regulation and improved pollutant abatement technology, among other factors, have led to decreasing pollutant releases to air and water in Europe. Soil contamination in Europe is, among other things, linked to industrial activity. Waste transfers from industrial facilities in the EU have remained relatively stable in the last decade.
The annual EU limit value for nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) — one of the main air quality pollutants of concern, which is typically associated with vehicle emissions — was widely exceeded across Europe in 2015. Some 89 % o f these exceedances occurred at roadside monitoring locations. The EU limit values for the two categories of particulate matter ( PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) were exceeded at fewer locations and at around the same amount of traffic and background stations, in comparison with last year. This indicates the importance of other emission sources for these pollutants , such as commercial and institutional buildings, household heating, etc.
Between 1990 and 2015, the transport sector significantly reduced emissions of certain air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) (both by around 85%), sulphur oxides (SO x ) (49 %), nitrogen oxides (NO x ) (41 %). Since, 2000 a reduction in particulate matter emissions (42 % for PM 2.5 and 35 % for PM 10 ) has occurred. Emission reductions from road transport have been lower than originally anticipated over the last two decades. This is partly because transport has grown more than expected and, for certain pollutants, partly owing to the larger than expected growth in diesel vehicles, which produce higher NO x and PM emissions than petrol-fuelled vehicles. Furthermore, it is widely accepted that 'real-world emissions' of NO x , particularly from diesel passenger cars and vans, generally exceed the permitted European emission (Euro) standards, which define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in the EU Member States. Emissions of all pollutants decreased in 2015 compared with the previous year. NO x emissions decreased by 1 %, SO x by 12 %, and PM 10 and PM 2.5 by 4 % and 5 %, respectively. The latest data show that non-exhaust emissions of primary PM 10 and PM 2.5 , such as from tyre- and brake-wear, make up 55 % and 37 % of total transport emissions of these pollutants, respectively. All transport modes have reduced their emissions since 1990, except for international aviation and shipping for which CO, NO x and SO x emissions of each pollutant have increased.
There was no discernible trend in European ozone concentrations between 2003 and 2012, in terms of the annual mean of the daily maximum eight hour average measured at any type of station. It is difficult to attribute observed ozone exceedences, or changes therein, to individual causes such as climate change. Future climate change is expected to increase ozone concentrations, but this increase should not exceed 5 µg/m 3 by the middle of the century and would therefore likely be outweighed by reductions in ozone levels due to planned future emissions reductions. End of the century projections for the effects of climate change involve an increase of up to 8 µg/m 3 in ozone concentrations .
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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/indicators or scan the QR code.
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