Between 1990 and 2017, the European Union (EU) recorded reductions in emissions of five main air pollutants. The biggest fall was reported for sulphur oxides (SOx) with a decrease of -90%, followed by non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and nitrous oxides (NOx) (both -60%). Emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) decreased by almost a half since the year 1990.
The smallest decrease was reported for ammonia (NH3) emissions, which fell by roughly one quarter.
Note: This article is about emissions of air pollutants recorded in so-called emission inventories for air pollutants.
For more information:
- Eurostat Statistics Explained article on Air pollution statistics - emission inventories
- The source data can be found in Eurostat dataset env_air_emis.
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