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Statistical Release - UK Emissions of air pollutants - 2006 Results

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Ref: 76/08
Date: 13 March 2008

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 hydrocarbons (PAHs)	t	1249	1209	-3.2%

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
	Units	1970	1980	1990	2000	2003	2004	2005	2006	% change 1990 to 2006
Pollutants covered by the UK Air Quality Strategy
Sulphur dioxide	kt	6370	4775	3717	1198	967	812	688	676	-82
Nitrogen oxides	kt	3125	2764	2968	1899	1721	1659	1620	1595	-46
Particulates (PM10)	kt	494	347	304	184	154	153	150	152	-50
Carbon monoxide	kt	12122	9145	8235	4230	2932	2689	2388	2268	-72
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 aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)	t	..	..	7795	1823	1696	1325	1249	1209	-84
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 furans	g	..	..	1146	229	218	227	199	197	-83
Other pollutants not covered by the UK AQS
Non-methane volatile organic compounds	kt	1925	2099	2388	1338	1063	1002	961	910	-62
Ammonia	kt	..	..	383	335	316	322	315	315	-18
Hydrogen chloride	kt	333	306	270	82	39	27	19	17	-94
Hydrogen fluoride	kt	14	11	10	4	5	5	5	5	-48

Detailed data tables for these pollutants, together with many other environmental statistics, may be found on the Defra web site at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/index.htm

Notes to editors

1. The 1990-2006 figures in this Statistics Release are from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory for 1970-2006, produced for Defra and the Devolved Administrations by AEA Energy & Environment.  Additional results will be released as they become available, including a full report published towards the end of the year. For further information on the Inventory see the NAEI web site.

2. There are uncertainties associated with all estimates of pollutant emissions. However, although for any given year considerable uncertainties may surround the emission estimates, it should be noted that trends over time are likely to be more reliable.

3. Results for greenhouse gases, also covered in the NAEI, were published in a separate Statistics Release on 31st January 2008. See www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080131a.htm for details.

4. A National Statistics publication
   National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice.  They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure they meet customer needs.

Page published: 13 March 2008

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