Emissions
of carbon monoxide (CO)
AP-13
Air
Pollution
Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
The
total annual amount of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions must be derived for all
economic activities, including agriculture, waste disposal and management and
industrial processes. The unit of measurement is Kt of CO 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:
Although
there are no agreements on an international level on the limitation/reduction
of carbon monoxide emissions, there exist Council Directives for the monitoring
of these emissions from large installations (84/360/EEC) and the establishment
of the maximum level of such emissions from motor engines (e.g. 88/77/EEC).
Ranking:
Core
ranking:
13
(14%)
Policy
Relevance:
18
(2.4)
Analytical
Soundness:
9
(2.8)
Responsiveness:
8
(2.6)
Most
appropriate related state indicator:
Atmospheric
concentration levels of photochemical oxidants
3 Significance
Purpose:
Emissions
of carbon monoxide arise from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels during
the starting and idle operating conditions. The purpose of this indicator is to
identify the activities mostly responsible for the release of carbon monoxide
into the atmosphere.
Relevance:
Carbon
monoxide emissions are not by themselves as important as SO
2
or NOx emissions for regional environmental problems. They together with high
concentrations of PM, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and other compounds
contribute to the occurrence of photochemical smog episodes during the winter
season.
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
Carbon
monoxide is also referred to as an ozone precursor gas and as such play an
important role in the Ozone Depletion processes, since it affects the rate of
creation/destruction of ozone. CO emissions are also related to the Urban
Problems policy field, as they are associated with local effects on the urban
population. It must be emphasised, however, that the present definition of the
indicator refers to inter-boundary air pollution problems related to regional
concentration levels and exceedance of critical loads.
Targets:
None.
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
The
main source of carbon monoxide are anthropogenic sources and particularly
fossil fuel combustion activities. The total amount of CO emissions is directly
related to the amount of carbon contained in the different type of fossil fuels
as well as the combustion technology used.
Measurement
methods:
Carbon
monoxide emissions estimates can be derived by considering the amount of fuel
consumed (both fossil fuels and biomass) together with emission factors related
to particular combustion processes. In order to determine the appropriate
emission factor for each activity, it is imperative to obtain relevant
statistical data related to the fuel characteristics, and the machinery
specifications. It must be noted that detailed methodologies (such as the
CORINAIR program) already exist for the estimation of CO emissions from all
anthropogenic activities.
Limitations
of the indicator:
The
level of detail required for various combustion processes and particularly data
related to the machinery characteristics might not be readily available for
certain activities. In this case, default emission factors can be used to
obtain estimates of the CO emissions released into the atmosphere.
Alternative
definitions:
Emissions
of carbon monoxide per capita (Kt CO/inhabitant), emissions of carbon monoxide
per unit of area (t CO/km2).
