Particulate matter and VOC, emissions in the Netherlands, 1990-2002*

There has been a stagnation in the reductions in emissions of particulate matter. Emissions of volatile organic compounds are falling, but more measures are needed if the policy objectives for 2010 are to be met.

Substance/target sector	1990	1995	1999	2000	2001	2002*
	million kg
Particulate matter	81	61	1)	51	48	46
of which Consumers	4.5	4.0	3.7	3.8	3.7	3.8
- Industry	35	22	1)	12	11	10
- Traffic and transport	26	22	21	20	19	19
- Agriculture and horticulture 2)	8.8	9.5	10	9.8	9.4	9.3
- Other	6.2	4.2	1)	4.7	4.3	4.2
VOC3)	490	362	287	267	251	244
of which Trade, services and government	51	33	23	21	20	20
- Waste	2.0	2.7	2.0	2.0	2.1	2.1
- Construction	22	17	15	15	12	12
- Consumers	37	33	27	27	27	27
- Energy sector	26	26	22	21	20	18
- Industry	151	101	74	64	59	57
- Agriculture and horticulture	2.0	1.9	1.7	1.7	1.7	2.0
- Traffic and transport	199	147	122	116	110	107
Source: CCDM (2003).					CBS/EDC/Aug03/0180
1) Incomplete observation in 1999, especially for Industry (incl. refineries) and the energy sector. 2) Including emissions of particulate matter from farm buildings and other agricultural activities. 3) Volatile organic compounds, excluding methane.

Developments

The fall in emissions of particulate matter has stagnated somewhat in recent years. The health risks of the inhalation of particulate matter have recently been updated (Buringh and Opperhuizen, 2002). This may result in new impulses for the reduction of PM₁₀ levels. The emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC, excluding methane) are still falling slowly, mainly in the Energy sector and the Traffic and Transport target sector.

Policy

The national objective for 2010 is 163 million kg for VOC (VROM, 2001). Objectives have been set for 2010 for VOC emissions by the target sectors. The emission target for particulate matter still has to be determined. The calculated emission figure for 2010 is 27 million kg.

• Acidification and transboundary air pollution: policy

Relevance

Sunlight releases ozone from VOC. This can result, for example, in the formation of photochemical smog. Direct exposure to VOC, particulate matter and ozone can also result in damage to human health and to damage to materials and ecosystems.

Technical note

For descriptions of the calculation method, the reader is referred to the meta-information for the Emissiemonitor.

References

• CCDM (2003). Emissiemonitor. Jaarcijfers 2001 en ramingen 2002. Datawarehouse-Emissieregistratie. Coördinatiecommissie Doelgroepmonitoring, The Hague.
• Buringh, E., and A. Opperhuizen (2002). On health risks of ambient PM in the Netherlands. RIVM report 650010032. RIVM, Bilthoven.
• VROM (2001). National Environmental Policy Plan 4. Working on sustainability: Where there's a will there's a world. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Acidification and transboundary air pollution: causes and impact
• Acidification and transboundary air pollution: policy
• Particulate matter and VOC, emissions by target sector in the Netherlands, 2002*
• Guide to emissions to air, water and soil
• See the Guide to 'National air quality' section for the consequences of acid emissions for the quality of the environment.
• Health effects in the Netherlands of particulate matter and ozone, 2000

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• Recent emission data and descriptions of the calculation methods used (meta-information) can be viewed in detail on the Data Warehouse of the 'Emissieregistratie' website. Emission data can also be found on Statline of Statistics Netherlands.