Industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009, EEA reveals

EEA, November 24, 2011

Air pollution from the 10,000 largest polluting facilities in Europe cost citizens between € 102 and 169 billion in 2009. This was one of the findings of a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which analysed the costs of harm to health and the environment caused by air pollution. Half of the total damage cost (between € 51 and 85 billion) was caused by just 191 facilities. Read more...

Recession contributes to air pollutant emissions decrease in 2009

EEA, July 27, 2011

Emissions of almost all main air pollutants fell across the EU-27 in 2009, according to the latest annual European Union air pollutant emission inventory report compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Some pollutants decreased significantly compared to the previous year, with analysis showing economic recession to be an important factor in this reduction. The drop was most evident for sulphur oxides (SOx), with emissions falling by 21 % between 2008 and 2009. The annual EU-27 emission inventory reported to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention confirms a long-term trend of decline for most air pollutants.

Sulphur oxide (SO_x) emissions have fallen the most since 1990 (–80 %), followed by carbon monoxide (CO) (–62 %), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) (–55 %) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x)(–44 %). Read more...

Air Pollution Linked to Diminishing IQ of Children

ENN, July 21, 2009

A new study published in the August 2009 edition of Pediatrics shows a possible disturbing correlation between increased urban air pollution and decreased IQ points in children. The study sites polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), or "chemicals released into the air from the burning of coal, diesel, oil, and gas, or other organic substances such as tobacco" as the major perpetrators of inner- city air pollution, with a particular focus on motor vehicle use. Read more...

Καθαρότερα καύσιμα στην Καλιφόρνια

ΕΡΤ, 24 Απριλίου 2009

Ένα ιστορικό νόμο για την περικοπή των εκπομπών διοξειδίου του άνθρακα από τα καύσιμα των αυτοκινήτων με παράλληλη ώθηση της αγοράς προς τα καθαρότερά εναλλακτικά καύσιμα, υιοθέτησε η Καλιφόρνια. Στον πυρήνα της ρύθμισης είναι οι νέες προδιαγραφές που απαιτούν από τα διυλιστήρια, τους παραγωγούς και τους εισαγωγείς των καυσίμων κίνησης να μειώσουν την περιεκτικότητα του άνθρακα κατά 10% έως το 2020 και περισσότερο αργότερα. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Road transport remains Europe’s single largest air polluter

EurActiv, July 28, 2008

Despite marked improvements since 1990, emissions from cars and trucks continue to be the main source of health-damaging air pollutants, according to a new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The report, published on Monday (28 July), shows that road transport remains the single most important source of sulphur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) in the EU-27. Read more...

Read the report: Annual European Community LRTAP Convention emission inventory report 1990-2006

Τοξικό αέρα αναπνέουν 6 ελληνικές πόλεις

TA NEA, 25 Απριλίου 2008

Αέρα-δηλητήριο «εμπλουτισμένο» με τοξικά μικροσωματίδια και αέριους ρύπους που συνδέονται με αύξηση της θνησιμότητας αναπνέουν οι κάτοικοι έξι ελληνικών πόλεων, σύμφωνα με πρόσφατη ευρωπαϊκή Έκθεση. Η Θεσσαλονίκη καταλαμβάνει την πρώτη θέση όσον αφορά τις υπερβάσεις των ορίων στα αιωρούμενα μικροσωματίδια. Η Αθήνα ακολουθεί στην 3η θέση, η Λάρισα στην 5η, η Πάτρα στην 7η, ο Βόλος στην 13η και το Ηράκλειο στην 20ή. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...