Published:
28 Jul 2008 - A report launched today by
the European Environment Agency shows that
road transport remains the single main source
of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide
(CO) and non-methane volatile organic compounds
(NMVOCs), and the second-most important
source of fine particulate emissions (PM10
and PM2.5) in the EU-27. This report contains
essential data that helps understand the
evolution of air pollutant emissions since
11000.
The report acknowledges
that most EU-27 countries have reduced their
emissions of air pollutants over the past
decades. However, other studies show that
pollution continues to undermine local air
quality, particularly in urban areas. The
report identifies road transport, manufacturing
industries and construction, the residential
sector and agriculture as the main sources
of air pollution in Europe today.
Exposure to air pollutants
may damage health in the short and long
term, affect natural ecosystems, and corrode
buildings and materials. Particulate matter
from sources such as vehicle exhausts and
residential heating can affect the lungs
and harm people of all ages, but it is known
to pose an extra risk to those with existing
heart and respiratory problems. Air pollutants
are also responsible for the acidification
of forests and water ecosystems, and eutrophication
of soils and waters — leading to limited
supply of oxygen in rivers and lakes.
Between 11000 and 2006,
nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions decreased
by 35 %, although the change of total NOx
emissions between 2005 and 2006 was small,
with a decrease of just 1.8 %, due to reductions
that occurred in Germany, Italy and the
United Kingdom. Nitrogen oxides are one
of the main contributors to the formation
of ground-level ozone, high levels of which
can trigger severe respiratory problems.
It also makes an important contribution
to acidification and eutrophication.
Electricity and heat
production (e.g. at power stations) constitutes
the main source of sulphur oxides (SOx)
emissions (58.4 %), followed by manufacturing
industries and construction sources (14.3
%). SOx is an acidifying pollutant which
can also aggravate respiratory diseases.
In contrast, agricultural
activities are responsible for the vast
majority of ammonia (NH3) emissions in EU-27.
NH3 is an important pollutant which causes
acidification and eutrophication. Livestock
manure, together with emissions from the
application of fertilisers account for more
than 90 % of the NH3 generation.
Each year, the European
Environment Agency assists the European
Commission by preparing the European Community’s
inventory report which is reported to the
Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution Convention
(LRTAP).
What is the LRTAP Convention?Since
1979, the Convention on Long-range Transboundary
Air Pollution has addressed some of the
major environmental problems of the member
countries of the UN Economic Commission
for Europe. The Convention has 51 Parties
and aims to limit and, as far as possible,
gradually reduce and prevent air pollution
including long-range transboundary air pollution.
Which air pollutants
are covered by the inventory?Under the LRTAP
Convention, Parties (including the European
Community) are requested to report emissions
data for a number of important air pollutants,
including sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen
oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic
compounds (NMVOCs), ammonia (NH3), carbon
monoxide (CO), primary particulate matter
(PM10 and PM2.5), heavy metals (HMs) and
persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
EU-27: Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Notes:Data in the report
will be made available through the EEA’s
Dataservice later in 2008. The data is also
used in assessments performed by EEA, and
will be used to update emission indicators
from the EEA’s Core Set of Indicators.
+ More
Heading for your favourite
beach? Is the bathing water clean?
Published: 30 Jul 2008
- The European Environment Agency (EEA)
and Microsoft today launched a new environmental
information portal ‘Eye on Earth’, displaying
the latest information on the water quality
in bathing sites across Europe. Through
its first application ‘Water Watch’, the
new portal allows users to rate beaches
and to share their comments with others.
Every year, millions
of Europeans spend their summer vacations
by coastal or inland waters. The quality
of the bathing water at their destination
can be a key factor in deciding where to
go. Now with Eye on Earth, holidaymakers
will not only be able to check the latest
information available on the water quality
at their possible destinations, but also
read comments posted by others who have
already been there.
“Bathing water information
is only a first step in our collaboration
with Microsoft. We will gradually expand
this two-way communication platform to include
other environmental information, such as
biodiversity and air quality”, said Professor
Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of
the EEA.
The bathing water application
retrieves information from more than 21,000
monitoring points across Europe. For all
these bathing sites, the portal presents
information from recent years. For some
countries, including Greece, Italy, Malta,
the Netherlands, Slovenia, Portugal and
Slovakia, the portal also displays the latest
2008 rating available.
Eye on Earth allows
users to zoom in on a given section of the
coast or riverbank, both in street map or
bird’s eye viewing formats. A ‘traffic-light’
evaluation (red, amber, green) of water
quality based on scientific monitoring methods
is supported by similar ratings reflecting
the experiences of people who have visited
the bathing site.
As part of the
five-year partnership announced last May,
the EEA and Microsoft will continue to develop
the Eye on Earth portal by adding new sets
of environmental information.
