UK emissions of air pollutants - 2006 results

UK emissions of air pollutants - 2006 results

LONDON. March 13, 2008/3mnewswire.org/ -- STATISTICAL RELEASE/ -- Defra today publish the 2006 results from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) for UK air pollutants. This covers all air pollutants excluding greenhouse gases, which were published in a separate statistical release on 31st January 2008.

HEADLINE RESULTS

* There has been a continuation of the long term trend of a reduction in air pollutant emissions for the majority of the pollutants in the inventory.

* Emissions of all gases covered in the Air Quality Strategy have fallen between 2005 and 2006, except for particulates (PM10).

* Emissions of the majority of metals have remained relatively stable between 2005 and 2006 with some increases relating to changes in fuel use.

* There has been a decline in emissions of all persistent organic pollutants between 2005 and 2006.

UK AIR QUALITY STRATEGY

The UK Air Quality Strategy contains policies for the assessment and management of air quality and implementation of European Union (EU) and international agreements. The Strategy achieves this by setting objectives for the main air pollutants to protect human health and ecosystems. The pollutants covered are benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulates (PM10 and PM2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulphur dioxide.

The table below shows 2005 and 2006 emissions of 8 of the pollutants covered by the UK Air Quality Strategy. Results do not include ozone, which is created by reactions in the atmosphere, or PM2.5 which will be included in next year's figures. For all pollutants except PM10 there has been a decrease in emissions since 2005.

Emissions of air pollutants covered by the UK Air Quality Strategy on a UNECE basis


Units 2005 2006 Percentage change
2005 to 2006
Sulphur dioxide kt 688 676 -1.8%
Nitrogen oxides kt 1620 1595 -1.5%
Particulates (PM10) kt 150 152 1.2%
Carbon monoxide kt 2388 2268 -5.0%
Benzene kt 14 14 -0.5%
1,3-Butadiene kt 3 3 -7.2%
Lead t 117 106 -9.1%
Polycyclic aromatic t 1249 1209 -3.2%
hydrocarbons (PAHs)





PERFORMANCE AGAINST EUROPEAN UNION (EU) TARGETS

The National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD) sets ceilings for each EU Member State for emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These four pollutants are primarily responsible for acidification and eutrophication which can be damaging to ecosystems, and the formation of ground-level ozone which can be harmful to both human health and ecosystems. For some pollutants there are additional targets that the UK is obliged to meet. UK emissions of each of the four pollutants against NECD ceilings, and, where appropriate, other targets are shown below:

Sulphur dioxide

There was a 1.8 per cent decrease in sulphur dioxide emissions from 0.69 million tonnes in 2005 to 0.68 million tonnes in 2006. The UK is committed to reducing emissions to approximately 0.59 million tonnes by 2010 under the EU NECD, and to 0.63 million tonnes under the UNECE Gothenburg Protocol also by 2010. The main source of emissions in 2006 was coal use in power stations and other industries.

The UK is also committed to two other sets of targets governing emissions of sulphur dioxide:

* The UNECE Second Sulphur Protocol. Under this protocol the UK is required to reduce emissions to 80 per cent below 1980 levels by 2010, with intermediate targets for 2000 and 2005. In 2006, emissions were 86 per cent below 1980 levels.

* The EC Large Combustion Plants (LCP) Directive. This Directive required a reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions from Large Combustion Plants (those with a thermal input greater than 50 megawatts) to 60 per cent below 1980 levels by 2003, with intermediate targets for 1993 and 1998. In 2003, emissions from LCPs were 79 per cent below 1980 levels and 89 percent below 1980 levels in 2006.

Figure 1 Sulphur dioxide emissions and targets: 1970-2010

Nitrogen oxides

There was a 1.5 per cent decrease in emissions of nitrogen oxides from 1.62 million tonnes in 2005 to 1.59 million tonnes in 2006. The UK is committed to reducing emissions to approximately 1.17 million tonnes under the EU NECD by 2010, and to 1.18 million tonnes under the UNECE Gothenburg Protocol also by 2010. Road transport was the largest source of emissions of nitrogen oxides in 2006, accounting for 32 per cent of the total.

In addition to these targets, the UK has committed to reducing emissions specifically from Large Combustion Plants (again, with a thermal input greater than 50 megawatts). The EC Large Combustion Plants Directive set a reduction target of 30 per cent below 1980 levels by 1998. Emissions from LCPs were 60 per cent below 1980 levels in 1998, and 59 per cent below 1980 levels in 2006.

Figure 2 Nitrogen oxides emissions and targets: 1970-2010

Non-methane volatile organic compounds

There was a 5.3 per cent decrease in emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) from 0.96 million tonnes in 2005 to 0.91 million tonnes in 2006. Since 1990, emissions have reduced by 62 per cent. The UK is committed to reducing emissions to approximately 1.20 million tonnes by 2010 under the EU NECD and UNECE Gothenburg protocols. In 2006, emissions of NMVOCs were already below the level of this target. Road transport, solvent use, leakage from gas and oil extraction and distribution are the primary sources of NMVOC emissions.

Figure 3 Non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions and targets: 1970-2010

Ammonia

There was little change in emissions of ammonia between 2005 and 2006, which remained at around 315 thousand tonnes. The UK is committed to reducing ammonia emissions to below 297 thousand tonnes by 2010 under the NECD and UNECE Gothenburg protocols. In 2006, emissions were 315 thousand tonnes, an 18 per cent reduction compared to 1990 emissions of 383 thousand tonnes. Ninety-one per cent of total ammonia emissions in 2006 were from agriculture.

Figure 4 Ammonia emissions and targets: 1990-2010

EMMISSIONS OF ALL AIR POLLUTANTS

Emissions totals for all pollutants included in the UK Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (excluding greenhouse gases) are summarised in the following table:

Air pollutant emissions on a UNECE basis: 1970 - 2006


Air pollutant
emissions on a
UNECE basis:
1970 - 2006
Units 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 2005 2006 %
change
1990
to
2006
Pollutants
covered by the
UK Air Quality
Strategy
Sulphur kt 6370 4775 3717 1198 967 812 688 676 -82
dioxide
Nitrogen kt 3125 2764 2968 1899 1721 1659 1620 1595 -46
oxides
Particulates kt 494 347 304 184 154 153 150 152 -50
(PM10)
Carbon kt 12122 9145 8235 4230 2932 2689 2388 2268 -72
monoxide
Benzene kt 56 18 16 15 14 14 -74
1,3-Butadiene kt 12 5 3 3 3 3 -79
Lead t .. 8306 2913 163 129 134 117 106 -96
Polycyclic t .. .. 7795 1823 1696 1325 1249 1209 -84
aromatic
hydrocarbons
(PAHs)
Metals not
covered by the
UK AQS
Arsenic t .. 47 47 20 15 14 14 14 -69
Cadmium t .. 29 24 6 3 4 4 4 -84
Chromium t .. 177 160 73 40 39 36 33 -79
Copper t .. 158 146 82 68 67 63 63 -57
Mercury t .. 43 38 8 8 7 7 8 -80
Nickel t .. 582 355 109 67 80 83 96 -73
Selenium t .. 98 90 45 40 47 49 47 -48
Zinc t .. 1047 1014 634 499 512 456 451 -55
Persistent
Organic
Pollutants
(POPs) not
covered by the
UK AQS
gamma HCH t .. .. 99 33 29 17 14 13 -87
PCP t .. .. 751 605 576 476 451 427 -43
HCB kg .. .. 3515 325 314 850 838 813 -77
PCBs kg .. .. 6580 1304 1231 1088 1029 1003 -85
Dioxins and g .. .. 1146 229 218 227 199 197 -83
furans
Other
pollutants not
covered by the
UK AQS
Non-methane kt 1925 2099 2388 1338 1063 1002 961 910 -62
volatile
organic
compounds
Ammonia kt .. .. 383 335 316 322 315 315 -18
Hydrogen kt 333 306 270 82 39 27 19 17 -94
chloride
Hydrogen kt 14 11 10 4 5 5 5 5 -48
fluoride





Detailed data tables for these pollutants, together with many other environmental statistics, may be found on the Defra web site at:

* http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/index.htm

3mnewswire.org