Air pollution fact sheet 2013 - Germany
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Air pollution fact sheet 2013
Germany
X Design and cover photo: EEA Layout: EEA Copyright notice © European Environment Agency, 2013 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, save where otherwise stated. Information about the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (www.europa.eu). European Environment Agency Kongens Nytorv 6 1050 Copenhagen K Denmark Tel.: +45 33 36 71 00 Fax: +45 33 36 71 99 Web: eea.europa.eu Enquiries: eea.europa.eu/enquiries
Introduction
Air pollution harms human health and the countries. A comprehensive overview of
environment. In Europe, emissions of many air information about Europe’s air quality is also
pollutants have decreased substantially in recent published each year by the EEA in the report ‘Air
decades, resulting in improved air quality across the quality in Europe’. A number of other publications
region. However, air pollutant concentrations are addressing air pollution are also published by the
still too high, and air quality problems persist. EEA each year. Information on the data sources
used is provided at the back of this fact sheet,
This fact sheet presents compiled information based together with a glossary explaining the various
on the latest official air pollution data reported by abbreviations and acronyms used throughout.
the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) member
Air pollutant emissions and projections
Air pollutants are emitted from a range of both man- European Commission's DG Environment here.
made and natural sources including: Internationally, the issue of air pollution emissions
is also addressed by the UNECE Convention on
burning of fossil fuels in electricity generation,
Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (the
transport, industry, and households;
LRTAP Convention) and its protocols. The
industrial processes and solvent use, for Gothenburg ‘multi-pollutant’ protocol under the
example in the chemical and mining industries; LRTAP Convention was amended in May 2012. In
agriculture; addition to emission ceilings for 2010 (that for the
EU Member States, are either equal to or less
waste treatment;
ambitious than those in the EU NEC Directive), the
natural sources, including volcanic eruptions, revised protocol now includes emission reduction
windblown dust, sea-salt spray and emissions commitments for 2020 expressed as a percentage of
of volatile organic compounds from plants. 2005 emissions. The revised Protocol also introduced
a 2020 emission reduction commitment for PM2.5.
For EU Member States, the National Emission
Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive) sets emission The following section shows information on the
ceilings (or limits) for the year 2010 and thereafter past emission trends of key air pollutants. It also
for man-made emissions of four key air pollutants compares the latest reported data with respective
(nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, non-methane national ceiling limits and, shows (where this
volatile organic compounds, and ammonia). These information is available) information on the
pollutants harm human health and the environment. expected level of future emissions.
Information concerning the revision of the
NEC Directive is available on the website of the
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 1
Box 1. Facts about air pollutants
Pollutant Description and sources Health and environment effects
Sulphur SO2 is formed by oxidation of sulphur (S), mainly SO2 aggravates asthma and can reduce lung
dioxide (SO2) through combustion of fuels containing S. The function and inflame the respiratory tract. It can
electricity generation sector is the most important cause headache, general discomfort and anxiety.
source of SO2. SO2 also can contribute to the SO2 contributes to acid deposition, the impacts of
formation of secondary sulphate particles in the which can be significant, causing damage to
atmosphere. forests and ecosystems in rivers and lakes.
Nitrogen oxides NOx is emitted during fuel combustion e.g. from NO2 is associated with adverse effects on health: it
(NOX) industrial facilities and the road transport sector. NOx can affect the liver, lung, spleen and blood. It can
is a group of gases comprising nitrogen monoxide also aggravate lung diseases leading to respiratory
(NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). NO makes up the symptoms and increased susceptibility to
majority of NOx emissions. NOx contributes to the respiratory infection. As with SO2, NOx
formation of ozone and particulate matter. contributes to acid deposition but also to
eutrophication of soil and water.
Particulate PM is a mixture of aerosol particles (solid and liquid) PM can cause or aggravate cardiovascular and
matter (PM) covering a wide range of sizes and chemical lung diseases, heart attacks and arrhythmias. It
compositions. PM10 (PM2.5) refers to particles with a can also affect the central nervous system and the
diameter of 10 (2.5) micrometres or less. PM is either reproductive system, and can cause cancer. One
directly emitted as primary particles or it forms in the outcome of exposure to PM can be premature
atmosphere from emissions of SO2, NOx, NH3 and death. PM also acts as a greenhouse gas, mainly
NMVOCs. PM is emitted from many anthropogenic cooling the earth’s climate, although in some cases
sources, including both combustion and non- it can lead to warming. PM in the atmosphere can
combustion sources. Important natural sources of PM also alter rainfall patterns, and affect the surface
are sea salt and natural re-suspended dust. albedo properties of snow (the extent to which the
snow reflects light).
Ozone (O3) Ground-level (tropospheric) ozone is not directly Elevated levels of ozone can cause respiratory
emitted into the atmosphere. Instead, it forms in the health problems, including decreased lung
atmosphere from a chain of chemical reactions function, aggravation of asthma, and other lung
following emissions of certain precursor gases: NOx, diseases. It can also lead to premature mortality.
carbon monoxide (CO) and NMVOCs and methane Ozone is also a greenhouse gas contributing to
(CH4). warming of the atmosphere.
Ammonia The vast majority of NH3 emissions come from the Exposure to high levels of ammonia may irritate
(NH3) agricultural sector, in connection with activities such skin, eyes, throat, and lungs and cause coughing.
as manure storage, slurry spreading, and the use of People with asthma may be more sensitive to
synthetic nitrogenous fertilisers. It also contributes to breathing ammonia than others. NH3, like NOx,
the formation of secondary particles. contributes to eutrophication and acidification.
Non methane NMVOCs produce photochemical oxidants by NMVOCs include a variety of chemicals. Certain
volatile organic reacting with NOx in the presence of sunlight. NMVOC species, such as benzene (C6H6) and 1,3-
compounds Anthropogenic NMVOCs are emitted from sources butadiene, are directly hazardous to human
(NMVOCs) including paint application, road transport, dry- health. NMVOCs are also precursors of ground-
cleaning and other solvent uses. Biogenic NMVOCs level ozone.
are emitted by vegetation, with the amounts emitted
dependent on species and on temperature.
Carbon CO is emitted due to incomplete combustion. CO can lead to heart disease and damage to the
monoxide (CO) Important sources of CO include road transport, nervous system. It can also cause headache,
businesses, households, and industry. CO reacts with dizziness and fatigue.
other pollutants producing ground-level ozone.
Methane (CH4) CH4 is produced by both anthropogenic and natural Methane is an important greenhouse gas, and is
sources. Significant anthropogenic sources include one of the gases controlled under the UNFCCC’s
the agriculture sector (from the enteric fermentation Kyoto protocol. At the regional and global scale
of CH4 from livestock), the waste sector, and ‘fugitive’ methane also contributes to the formation of
emissions from coal mining and gas. ground level ozone.
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 2
Nitrogen oxides (NO x) Germany
NOx emissions and projections Emissions by sector - 2011
3 500
Energy use & supply excl.
transport (44%)
3 000
Road transport (37%)
2 500
Gg NOx
2 000 Other transport (3%)
1 500
Industrial processes (7%)
1 000
Agriculture (9%)
500
0 Waste (0%)
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
NOx emissions MS projections Other (0%)
NECD 2010 ceiling GP 2020 red. commitments
Current and projected progress towards ceilings Value Unit
Progress towards ceilings
2010 NECD emission ceiling for NOx 1 051 (Gg)
2020 Gothenburg protocol (GP) reduction commitment for NOx 961* (Gg)
2015 WM projections** 1 182 (Gg)
2020 WM projections** 1 013 (Gg)
Relative
Absolute Unit
(%)
Distance of latest year NOx emission data to emission ceiling in
332 (Gg) 35
2020
Trend of total NOx emissions 1990-2011 -1 582 (Gg) - 55
Trend of total NOx emissions 2001-2011 for comparison with air
- 554 (Gg) - 30
quality trends
* calculated based on the percentage emission reduction commitment for 2020 expressed relative to 2005 emissions
** Germany did not provide 2015 and 2020 projection data in the 2013 reporting round. Projections reported in 2012
were used above.
Non methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) Germany
NMVOC emissions and projections Emissions by sector - 2011
3 500
Energy use & supply excl.
transport (17%)
3 000
Road transport (12%)
2 500
Gg NMVOCs
2 000 Other transport (0%)
1 500
Industrial processes (3%)
1 000
Agriculture (0%)
500
0 Waste (0%)
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
NMVOC emissions MS projections Other (68%)
NECD 2010 ceiling GP 2020 red. commitments
Current and projected progress towards ceilings Value Unit
Progress towards ceilings
2010 NECD emission ceiling for NMVOCs 995 (Gg)
2020 Gothenburg protocol (GP) reduction commitment for
998* (Gg)
NMVOCs
2015 WM projections** 1 092 (Gg)
2020 WM projections** 1 073 (Gg)
Relative
Absolute Unit
(%)
Distance of latest year NMVOC emission data to emission ceiling
10 (Gg) 1
in 2020
Trend of total NMVOC emissions 1990-2011 -2 124 (Gg) - 68
Trend of total NMVOC emissions 2001-2011 for comparison with
- 286 (Gg) - 22
air quality trends
* calculated based on the percentage emission reduction commitment for 2020 expressed relative to 2005 emissions
** Germany did not provide 2015 and 2020 projection data in the 2013 reporting round. Projections reported in 2012
were used above.
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 3
Sulphur dioxide (SO 2) Germany
SO2 emissions and projections Emissions by sector - 2011
6 000
Energy use & supply excl.
transport (80%)
5 000
Road transport (0%)
4 000
Gg SO2
Other transport (0%)
3 000
Industrial processes (19%)
2 000
1 000 Agriculture (0%)
0 Waste (0%)
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
SO2 emissions MS projections Other (0%)
NECD 2010 ceiling GP 2020 red. commitments
Current and projected progress towards ceilings Value Unit
Progress towards ceilings
2010 NECD emission ceiling for SO2 520 (Gg)
2020 Gothenburg protocol (GP) reduction commitment for SO 2 377* (Gg)
2015 WM projections** 449 (Gg)
2020 WM projections** 402 (Gg)
Relative
Absolute Unit
(%)
Distance of latest year SO2 emission data to emission ceiling in
68 (Gg) 18
2020
Trend of total SO2 emissions 1990-2011 -4 847 (Gg) - 92
Trend of total SO2 emissions 2001-2011 for comparison with air
- 187 (Gg) - 30
quality trends
* calculated based on the percentage emission reduction commitment for 2020 expressed relative to 2005 emissions
** Germany did not provide 2015 and 2020 projection data in 2013 and so projections from 2012 were used above.
Ammonia (NH3) Germany
NH3 emissions and projections Emissions by sector - 2011
800
Energy use & supply excl.
700 transport (1%)
600 Road transport (3%)
500
Gg NH3
Other transport (0%)
400
300 Industrial processes (2%)
200
Agriculture (94%)
100
0 Waste (0%)
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
NH3 emissions MS projections Other (0%)
NECD 2010 ceiling GP 2020 red. commitments
Current and projected progress towards ceilings Value Unit
Progress towards ceilings
2010 NECD emission ceiling for NH3 550 (Gg)
2020 Gothenburg protocol (GP) reduction commitment for NH3 550* (Gg)
2015 WM projections** 547 (Gg)
2020 WM projections** 550 (Gg)
Relative
Absolute Unit
(%)
Distance of latest year NH3 emission data to emission ceiling in
13 (Gg) 2
2020
Trend of total NH3 emissions 1990-2011 - 143 (Gg) - 20
Trend of total NH3 emissions 2001-2011 for comparison with air
- 52 (Gg) -9
quality trends
* calculated based on the percentage emission reduction commitment for 2020 expressed relative to 2005 emissions
** Germany did not provide 2015 and 2020 projection data in 2013 and so projections from 2012 were used above.
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 4
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) Germany
PM2.5 emissions and projections Emissions by sector - 2011
250
Energy use & supply excl.
transport (48%)
200
Road transport (21%)
150
Gg PM2.5
Other transport (1%)
100 Industrial processes (15%)
50 Agriculture (5%)
0 Waste (0%)
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
PM2.5 emissions MS projections Other (9%)
GP 2020 red. commitments
Current and projected progress towards ceilings Value Unit
2020 Gothenburg protocol (GP) reduction commitment for
Progress towards ceilings
92* (Gg)
PM2.5
2015 WM projections** 100 (Gg)
2020 WM projections** 90 (Gg)
Relative
Absolute Unit
(%)
Distance of latest year PM2.5 emission data to emission ceiling
19 (Gg) 20
in 2020
Trend of total PM2.5 emissions 1990-2011 - 95 (Gg) - 46
Trend of total PM2.5 emissions 2001-2011 for comparison with
- 34 (Gg) - 23
air quality trends
Trend of total PM2.5 emissions 2001-2011 for comparison with
- 34 (Gg) - 23
air quality trends
* calculated based on the percentage emission reduction commitment for 2020 expressed relative to 2005 emissions
Carbon monoxide (CO) Germany
CO emissions and projections Emissions by sector - 2011
14 000
Energy use & supply excl.
transport (47%)
12 000
Road transport (30%)
10 000
Gg CO
8 000 Other transport (1%)
6 000
Industrial processes (23%)
4 000
Agriculture (0%)
2 000
0 Waste (0%)
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Other (0%)
CO emissions
Current and projected progress towards ceilings Value Unit
Progress towards ceilings
2015 WM projections n/a (Gg)
2020 WM projections n/a (Gg)
Relative
Absolute Unit
(%)
Distance of latest year CO emission data to emission ceiling in
n/a (Gg) n/a
2020
Trend of total CO emissions 1990-2011 -9 092 (Gg) - 73
Trend of total CO emissions 2001-2011 for comparison with
-1 339 (Gg) - 29
air quality trends
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 5
Methane (CH4) Germany
CH4 emissions and projections Emissions by sector - 2011
6 000
Energy use & supply excl.
transport (23%)
5 000
Transport (0%)
4 000
Gg CH4
3 000 Industrial processes (0%)
2 000
Agriculture (53%)
1 000
Waste (24%)
0
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Other (0%)
CH4 emissions
Current and projected progress towards ceilings Value Unit
Progress towards ceilings
2015 WM projections n/a (Gg)
2020 WM projections n/a (Gg)
Relative
Absolute Unit
(%)
Distance of latest year CH4 emission data to emission ceiling in
n/a (Gg) n/a
2020
Trend of total CH4 emissions 1990-2011 -2 910 (Gg) - 56
Trend of total CH4 emissions 2001-2011 for comparison with
-1 116 (Gg) - 32
air quality trends
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 6
Linking air emissions and air quality
Emissions of the main air pollutants in Europe have precursor substances by vegetation; the increase in
declined since 1990. Over the past decade, this global background ozone concentrations; and
reduction in emissions has resulted – for some of the transportation of ozone and of ozone precursor
pollutants – in improved air quality across the substances from source areas outside Europe. All
region. However, due to the complex links between these contributing factors mean that European
emissions and air quality, emission reductions do emission reductions of pollutants contributing to the
not always produce a corresponding drop in formation of ozone may not result in equivalent
atmospheric concentrations, especially for PM and reductions of ozone concentrations.
O3.
Improving our understanding of air pollution
For example, while reductions of O3-forming therefore remains a challenge. Developing and
substances (i.e. O3 precursor gases) have been implementing effective policy to reduce air pollution
substantial in Europe, O3 concentrations in Europe should be a priority. For further information, see the
have remained stable. Concentration levels depend EEA annual report Air quality in Europe.
on year-by-year variations in weather conditions
including sunlight; natural emissions of ozone
Exposure of urban population to selected
air pollutants
(1)
Exposure of urban population
Percentage of the urban population exposed to air pollutant concentrations above the EU air quality objectives (2009-
2011) (2)
Exposure estimate (%)
Germany EU reference value
(minimum and maximum over the period)
PM10 day (50 μg/m3) 0–4
O3 8-hour (120 μg/m3) 1 – 17
NO2 year (40 μg/m3) 0
The colour coding of exposure estimates refers to the fraction of urban population exposed to concentrations
above the reference level:
75 %
(1) The detailed methodology of the calculation can be found at:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/exceedance-of-air-quality-limit-1/
(2) The pollutants in this table are ordered in terms of their relative risk for health damage. The reference levels include
EU limit or target values. For PM10 and NO2 the estimates are related to the most stringent EU limit value set for the
protection of human health. For O3 there is only one target value.
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 7
Trends of exposure of urban population
Percentage of the urban population potentially exposed to air pollution exceeding EU air quality objectives
(the most stringent EU limit values for PM10 and NO2 and the target value for O3 set for the protection of
human health have been chosen)
Germany
Trends of exposure of total population
Percentage of the total population exposed to PM10 concentrations above the limit values (LV); and the
population-weighted concentration for the human health PM10 indicators annual average and for the 36th
maximum daily average for 2006 to 2010 (3)
Germany PM10 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Annual average
Population-weighted concentration (μg/m3) 24.2 20.7 19.6 20.7 21.2
Population exposed > ALV (%) 0 0 0 0 0
36 maximum daily average
th
Population-weighted concentration (μg/m3) 41.3 35.7 31.7 34.4 37.2
Population exposed > DLV (%) 2.0 0 0 0 0.5
Percentage of the total population exposed to ozone concentrations above the target value (TV) for the 26 th
highest daily maximum 8-hour average; and the population-weighted concentrations for 2006 to 2010
Germany ozone 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
26 highest daily maximum 8-hr. average
th
Population-weighted concentration (μg/m3) 125.6 113.3 113.5 108.8 112.9
Population exposed > TV (%) 88.0 13.1 10.6 2.0 14.5
The methodology to calculate concentrations can be found at:
(3)
http://acm.eionet.europa.eu/reports/docs/ETCACM_TP_2012_12_AQMaps2010.pdf
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 8Air quality status
The calculations for the attainment status presented Directive 2008/50/EC annual limit value (ALV): 40
below have been made for stations with a data μg/m3
capture of at least 75 % per calendar year.
NO2 ALV attainment status at monitoring stations
(year 2011)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
(percentage of station type)
Number of stations in non-
NO2 monitoring stations in the EEA´s air quality
Percentage of stations in
Percentage of stations in
database – AirBase (year 2011)
non-attainment of ALV
non-attainment of ALV
Station classification
(percentage of total)
Number of stations
attainment of ALV
Station Number of
Percentage
classification stations
Other 25 4.7
Rural 72 13.5
Traffic 275 51.5
Urban 162 30.3 Other 25 0 0.0 0.0
Total 534 100.0 Rural 71 0 0.0 0.0
Traffic 154 87 21.4 56.5
Urban 157 0 0.0 0.0
Total 407 87 21.4 -
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 9Directive 2008/50/EC hourly limit value (HLV): 200 Trends in NO2 concentrations
μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 18 times
Trends in annual mean concentrations of NO2 (2002-
NO2 HLV attainment status at monitoring stations 2011) per station type
(year 2011)
(percentage of station type)
Number of stations in non-
Percentage of stations in
Percentage of stations in
non-attainment of HLV
non-attainment of HLV
Station classification
(percentage of total)
Number of stations
attainment of HLV
Other 25 0 0.0 0.0
Rural 71 0 0.0 0.0
Traffic 153 7 1.7 4.6
Urban 157 0 0.0 0.0
Total 406 7 1.7 -
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 10Particulate matter (PM10) Directive 2008/50/EC annual limit value (ALV): 40
μg/m3
According to current legislation, Member States can
subtract contributions from natural sources and PM10 ALV attainment status at monitoring stations
from re-suspension due to sanding or salting of (year 2011)
roads in the winter. The results below do not take
into account these subtractions.
(percentage of station type)
Number of stations in non-
Percentage of stations in
Percentage of stations in
PM10 monitoring stations in the EEA´s air quality
non-attainment of ALV
non-attainment of ALV
database – AirBase (year 2011)
Station classification
(percentage of total)
Number of stations
attainment of ALV
Station Number of
Percentage
classification stations
Other 43 10.0
Rural 64 14.9
Traffic 166 38.6
Other 34 0 0.0 0.0
Urban 157 36.5
Rural 61 0 0.0 0.0
Total 430 100.0
Traffic 160 1 0.3 0.6
Urban 143 0 0.0 0.0
Total 398 1 0.3 -
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 11Daily limit value: 50 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than Trends in PM10 concentrations
35 times
Trends in annual mean concentrations of PM10 (2002-
PM10 DLV attainment status at monitoring stations 2011) per station type
(year 2011)
(percentage of station type)
Number of stations in non-
Percentage of stations in
Percentage of stations in
non-attainment of DLV
non-attainment of DLV
Station classification
(percentage of total)
Number of stations
attainment of DLV
Other 34 11 2.8 32.4
Rural 61 0 0.0 0.0
Traffic 160 65 16.3 40.6
Urban 143 5 1.3 3.5
Total 398 81 20.4 -
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 12Ozone (O3) Protection of human health: Directive 2008/50/EC long
term objective (LTO): Maximum daily eight-hour mean =
The results presented below have been calculated 120 μg/m3. Target value threshold (TVt): 25 exceedances
for the target value threshold (TVt) as defined in the of the LTO
annual summer ozone reports published by EEA ( 4).
Ozone TVt attainment status at monitoring stations
Ozone monitoring stations in the EEA´s air quality (year 2011)
database – AirBase (for protection of human health, year
2011)
of LTO but TVt (percentage of station type)
Percentage of stations in non-attainment of
Percentage of stations in non-attainment of
Percentage of stations in non-attainment of
Percentage of stations in non-attainment
Number of stations in non-attainment of
Number of stations in non-attainment of
Station Number of
Percentage
classification stations
LTO but TVt (percentage of total)
TVt (percentage of station type)
Other 16 6.1
Rural 78 29.5
TVt (percentage of total)
Traffic 25 9.5
Station classification
145 54.9
Number of station
Urban
LTO but of TVt
Total 264 100.0
TVt
Other 16 3 13 1.1 5.0 18.8 81.3
Rural 77 23 54 8.8 20.6 29.9 70.1
Traffic 25 0 21 0.0 8.0 0.0 84.0
Urban 144 11 133 4.2 50.8 7.6 92.4
Total 262 37 221 14.1 84.4 - -
(4) EEA technical report No 3/2013: Air pollution by ozone
across Europe during summer 2012
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 13Trends in ozone concentrations
Trends in annual mean of the daily maximum 8-h average
O3 (2002-2011) per station type
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 14Changes in concentrations and impacts of
air pollutants caused by emissions from
other countries
Source-receptor (SR) relationships are a type of data The charts below show the source-receptor
developed by the Cooperative Programme for relationships for each country for three selected
Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range parameters:
Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP).
Ground-level mean ozone over 35 ppb
SRs provide information on the change in air (SOMO35) (effect of a 15% reduction in
concentrations, deposition or impacts that arise from precursor NOx emissions);
changes in emissions from different emitting Ground-level mean ozone over 35 ppb
countries. (SOMO35) (effect of a 15% reduction in
precursor NMVOC emissions);
Each figure which follows provides an indication of PM2.5. Effect on PM2.5 concentrations caused by
the distribution of imported air pollution by a 15% reduction in all precursor emissions (i.e.
country. Results are dependent upon the version of primary PM2.5, SOx, NOx, NH3 and VOC).
the EMEP model being used, the absolute
magnitude of emissions, and meteorological drivers. Further information on the source-receptor matrices
is available from the EMEP website.
The six most important emitter countries, or regions, with respect to the reduction in
SOMO35 in Germany that would result from a 15 % decrease in NOx emissions
Source: EMEP/MSC-W
Note: BIC – Boundary and Initial Conditions; ATL – Remaining N.E. Atlantic; NOS – North Sea
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 15The six most important emitter countries, or regions, with respect to the reduction in
SOMO35 in Germany that would result from a 15 % decrease in NMVOC emissions
Source: EMEP/MSC-W
The six most important emitter countries, or regions, with respect to the reduction in
primary and secondary PM2.5 in Germany that would result from a 15 % reduction in
emissions
Source: EMEP/MSC-W
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 16Background
Air pollution is a complex problem. Different where exceedances of air quality standards occur.
pollutants interact in the atmosphere, affecting our Particulate matter (PM) and ozone (O3) pollution are
health, environment and climate. particularly associated with serious health risks.
Air pollutants are emitted from almost all economic Air pollutants released in one European country
and societal activities. Across Europe as a whole, may contribute to or result in poor air quality
emissions of many air pollutants have decreased in elsewhere. Moreover, important contributions from
recent decades, and much progress has been made intercontinental transport influence O3 and PM
in tackling air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide concentrations in Europe. Addressing air pollution
(SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and benzene (C6H6). requires local measures to improve air quality,
However, air pollutant concentrations are still too greater international cooperation, and a focus on the
high and harm our health and the ecosystems we links between climate policies and air pollution
depend on. A significant proportion of Europe's policies.
population lives in areas – especially cities –
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 17Further information and data sources
Data sources European legislation establishes air quality
objectives (limit and target values) for the
Air quality concentration data are from different pollutants. These are concentrations that
AirBase v. 7, the EEA´s public air quality must not be exceeded in a given period of time.
database, which stores data reported by EEA
member countries. Concentration data measured The estimations of the population exposure were
in the year ‘x’ are submitted by 30 September of obtained from the EEA´s Core Set Indicator 004
the following year (x+1) and become publicly and from interpolated AQ maps.
available in Airbase by March of year x+2. These
data correspond to measurements taken at air Estimated emissions of air pollutants 1990-2011
quality monitoring stations. Stations are defined and projections data are from the annual
according to the type of area they represent and European Union emission inventory submitted
the dominant emission sources in that area. under the UNECE Convention on Long-range
Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP), and data
Station types include: submitted under the EU National Emission
rural stations located outside of built-up Ceilings Directive (81/2001/EC). Emissions data
urban areas; for some countries is gap-filled – further details
urban stations located in built-up areas are contained in the annual EU emission
where pollution levels are not influenced inventory report submitted to the LRTAP
significantly by any single source or Convention. Methane data is from GHG data
street, but rather by a combination of reported under the EU GHG Monitoring
many sources; Mechanism (280/2004/EC)/UNFCCC.
traffic stations located such that the
pollution levels they record are The ‘with measures’ projections illustrated refer to
determined predominantly by the projections of anthropogenic emissions that
emissions from nearby traffic; and encompass the effects, in terms of air pollutant
other stations, mainly industrial stations, emission reductions, of policies and measures that
located such that the pollution levels they have been adopted at the time the projection is
record are influenced predominantly by calculated.
emissions from nearby single industrial
sources or by emissions from industrial Information on source-receptor relationships was
areas with many pollution sources. obtained from EMEP for the year 2010 (website
accessed 20 June 2013).
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 18Units, abbreviations and acronyms
ALV Annual limit value NEC Directive EU National Emission Ceilings
BaP Benzo(a)pyrene Directive (2001/81/EC)
C6H6 Benzene NH3 Ammonia
CH4 Methane NMVOC(s) Non-methane volatile organic
CO Carbon monoxide compound(s)
DLV Daily limit value NO2 Nitrogen dioxide
EEA European Environment Agency NOx Nitrogen oxides
Eionet European Environment O3 Ozone
Information and Observation PAH(s) Polycyclic aromatic
Network hydrocarbon(s)
EMEP European Monitoring and Evaluation PM Particulate matter
Programme (Cooperative PM10 Coarse particulate matter
programme for monitoring and (particles measuring 10 µm or
evaluation of the long-range less)
transmissions of air pollutants in PM2.5 Fine particulate matter (particles
Europe) measuring 2.5 µm or less)
ETC/ACM European Topic Centre on Air SO2 Sulphur dioxide
Pollution and Climate Change SOx Sulphur oxides
Mitigation of the EEA SOMO35 The sum of the amounts by which
EU European Union maximum daily 8-hour
Gg 1 gigagram = 109 g = 1 kilotonne (kt) concentrations of ozone exceed
GHG Greenhouse gas 70 μg m-3 (cut-off value) on each
GP Gothenburg Protocol of the LRTAP day in a calendar year.
Convention SR Source-receptor relationships
HLV Hourly limit value t 1 tonne (metric) = 1 megagram
kg 1 kilogram = 103 g (gram) (Mg) = 106 g
LRTAP Long-range Transboundary Air TV Target value
Pollution (Convention) TVt Target value threshold
LTO Long-term objective µg/m3 micrograms per cubic meter
LV Limit value UNECE United Nations Economic
n/a Not applicable/not available Commission for Europe
VOC(s) Volatile organic compound(s)
Air pollution fact sheet 2013 – Germany 19© EEA, 2013 European Environment Agency Kongens Nytorv 6 1050 Copenhagen K Denmark Tel.: +45 33 36 71 00 Fax: +45 33 36 71 99 Web: eea.europa.eu Enquiries: eea.europa.eu/enquiries
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