Emissions
of particles
AP-4
Air
Pollution
Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
The
total annual amount of suspended particle emissions must be derived for all
economic activities, including energy production and transformation, industry,
transportation and domestic and tertiary sectors. The unit of measurement is Kt
of particles per year.
2 Placement
in the framework
5EAP:
Chapter
5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.2: Acidification and air
quality.
Agenda
21:
Chapter
9: Protection of the atmosphere.
International
conventions and agreements:
The
UNECE LRTAP (Geneva, 1979) and its protocols on sulphur (Helsinki, 1985 and
Oslo, 1994) and nitrogen oxides (Sofia, 1988) emissions. Proposal for a Council
decision on the conclusion by the EC of the Protocol to the LRTAP on further
reduction of sulphur emissions (COM(97)88) is under discussion with Member
States (Directive to enter into force by 1.6.98).
Ranking:
Core
ranking:
4
(40%)
Policy
Relevance:
4
(3.1)
Analytical
Soundness:
5
(3.1)
Responsiveness:
9
(2.6)
Most
appropriate related state indicator:
Concentration
levels of (aerosol) particles in the atmosphere.
3 Significance
Purpose:
Emissions
of particles arise primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels. The purpose
of this indicator is to identify the activities mostly responsible for the
release of particles into the atmosphere.
Relevance:
Particles
emissions (including dust and soot) are associated with the occurrence of
winter smog episodes and the degradation of visibility.
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
Aerosol
particles larger than 10μm in diameter are considered as being responsible
for health effects, and therefore, can be associated with the field of Urban
Environmental Problems.
Targets:
None.
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
Suspended
particles combined with high levels of SO
2
induce winter air pollution occurrences in areas of low wind and strong
temperature inversion. Under these conditions, the pollutants are not allowed
to dilute in the lower atmospheric layers, thus leading to high concentrations
in the upper atmosphere. The total amount of particles emissions from all
anthropogenic activities is directly related to the combustion of fossil fuels
for energy production.
Measurement
methods:
Direct
measurements of particles emitted into the atmosphere are not presently readily
available and therefore this indicator must be the result of a detailed survey
of fossil fuels used for energy production and the use of appropriate emission
factors.
Limitations
of the indicator:
Specific
emission factors, currently published for various combustion processes, are
associated with a high level of uncertainty, which affects the reliability of
the estimates obtained.
Alternative
definitions:
Emissions
of particles per capita (Kt /inhabitant).
