Hazardous substances
Chemicals are used in many sectors for different purposes. However, many chemicals have hazardous properties, which can harm both the environment and human health.
Eurostat has developed and publishes a set of chemical indicators every year to monitor progress in reducing the production of hazardous chemicals. This information helps track the substitution of chemicals that are harmful to human health or the environment with less hazardous chemicals.
Eurostat's hazardous substance indicators are based on industrial production statistics and present the production and consumption of industrial chemicals with a particular focus on substances that are hazardous to human health or the environment.
Eurostat publishes 4 indicators of industrial chemicals, as follows:
- production of chemicals hazardous to human health
- production of chemicals hazardous to the environment
- consumption of chemicals hazardous to human health
- consumption of chemicals hazardous to the environment
Some chemicals hazardous for the environment are also hazardous for human health, thus there is a partial overlap. To have one indicator covering all hazards, Eurostat also publishes a 5th indicator about the consumption of chemicals hazardous to health and environment.
Eurostat releases only the aggregate for the European Union. Data for EU members cannot be published due to confidentiality.