Acidifying substances: emissions by target sector in the Netherlands, 1990-2002*
The emissions of acidifying substances are still decreasing. Most of the decrease is accounted for by the reduction in emissions of ammonia in the Agriculture and horticulture target sector.
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2001* | 2002* | |
| billion a.e. 1) | |||||
| Total | 33 | 27 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
| Agriculture and horticulture | 13 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| of which - furnaces | 0.24 | 0.32 | 0.27 | 0.26 | 0.26 |
| - process/other | 13 | 11 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 7.3 |
| Energy | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| of which - furnaces | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| - process/other | 0.029 | 0.013 | 0.005 | 0.007 | 0.003 |
| Industry | 6.1 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| of which - furnaces | 4.5 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| - process/other | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.87 | 1.05 | 0.97 |
| Consumers | 0.86 | 0.88 | 0.85 | 0.87 | 0.87 |
| of which - furnaces | 0.47 | 0.49 | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.46 |
| - process/other | 0.38 | 0.40 | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.41 |
| Traffic and transport | 9.1 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.1 |
| Other activities | 0.64 | 0.49 | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.44 |
| of which - furnaces | 0.36 | 0.37 | 0.34 | 0.38 | 0.39 |
| - process/other | 0.28 | 0.11 | 0.077 | 0.060 | 0.051 |
| Source: CCDM (2003). | CBS/EDC/Aug03/0185 | ||||
| 1) An acidification equivalent (a.e.) is the measure for the acid-forming ability of the various substances and corresponds to 32 g SO2, 46 g NO2 or 17 g NH3. | |||||
Developments
The emissions of acidifying substances continued to fall in 2002 compared to previous years. The largest absolute fall was realised by the reduction in NH3 emissions from the Agriculture and horticulture target sector. The largest relative fall was realised by the Industry target sector, where emissions have more than halved since 1990.
Policy
The fourth National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP4) formulates new national objectives for 2010 for sulphur dioxide (SO2): 46 million kg, nitrogen oxides (NOx): 231 million kg and ammonia (NH3): 100 million kg. This corresponds to 12.3 billion acid equivalents in 2010.
Relevance
The listed substances contribute to the acidification and eutrophication of soil and water. Direct exposure to these substances can also result in damage to human health and to damage to materials and ecosystems.
