Emissions of priority substances to air, water and soil in the Netherlands, 1990-2010
Developments in the environmental pressure indicator for air
Between 1990 and 1999 environmental pressure on the air compartment fell sharply. This was mainly due to the decrease in the environmental pressure from mercury, chromium, propylene oxide and ethylene oxide. In 1999 the contribution from fluorides, trichloromethane, propylene oxide, ethene, toluene and chromium to environmental pressure caused by emissions of priority substances to air was relatively higher.
The air sub-indicator is made up of contributions from twenty-six priority substances. It does not include substances such as NOx, SO2 and CO, since they are covered under other themes.
Uncertainty about the reliability of recent emission data for air
Since the introduction of compulsory Annual Environmental Reports, major trend shifts have been found in emissions to air (including polyaromatic hydrocarbons and benzene). The quality of the emission data has declined and/or is often impossible to ascertain. It has therefore been decided not to update the environmental pressure indicator for air using the latest emission data (RIVM, 2000). In late 2002, the 'Emissieregistratie' (Emissions Inventory) conducted a survey of the quality of the emission data.
Developments in the environmental pressure indicator for soil and water
Emissions of heavy metals to the soil have been decreasing since 1990, due mainly to decreased emissions of cadmium and lead. Emissions of heavy metals to surface water in the Netherlands decreased substantially from 1990 to 2000. Nickel contributed 60% of the environmental pressure on water in 2000.
The soil and water sub-indicators consist of contributions from seven heavy metals: cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, lead, nickel and zinc. For soil, only the contributions from the Agriculture target sector have been taken into consideration. At present, there is a project in place at the Emissions Inventory for improving the registration of emissions of heavy metals by Agriculture and horticulture. Pending the results of this survey, it has been decided not to update the soil environmental pressure indicator with the latest emissions data (RIVM, 2000).
Policy
The Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment has set emission reduction objectives for priority substances for 2010 (VROM, 2001). The aim of the policy is to achieve at least the desired quality standards for environmental quality in 2010. The policy makes a distinction between two types of priority substance:
- Substances in category A constitute such a major or large-scale risk for public health and/or the environment that a stringent emissions policy with leading emission reduction objectives is thought to be necessary. For these substances, national objectives, targets or policy efforts have been agreed by target sector for 2010. They are such that, in a large number of situations, the desired environmental quality (desired quality standard) will not be under threat as a result of these emissions.
- In the case of category B substances (a number of the priority substances), current information (or expectations for the period 2000-2010) indicates that emissions from the target sectors have been reduced to such an extent that the desired quality standard is hardly exceeded anywhere in the Netherlands as a result of emissions. National objectives or even targets for each target group for these substances do not appear to be necessary (VROM, 2001).
