Archive:Chemicals production statistics

Data from June 2010, most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database.

Eurostat is working on statistics on hazardous substances since the mid-1990s when some Environmental Pressure Indicators (EPI) related to chemicals were developed.

Eurostat has recently, in collaboration with the services responsible for environment and for industry of the European Commission published a baseline study, providing a set of indicators to monitor the effectiveness of the new European Union Regulation on the 'Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals' (REACH). Read the dedicated article in Statistics Explained.

Another priority of Eurostat is the development of indicators describing the production trend of chemicals which are toxic to human health and/or harmful to the environment.

These indicators are used to measure progress towards the headline objective for ‘public health’ established in the EU - Sustainable Development Strategy and the objective ‘to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment’ in the 6th EU Environment Action Programme.

This article explains two indicators developed and maintained by Eurostat: ‘Production of toxic chemicals’ and ‘Production of environmentally harmful chemicals’

Main statistical findings

Figure 1: Production volume of toxic chemicals, EU-15 and EU-25

Between 1996 and 2007, the total production of chemicals in the EU-15 grew by 22 % (see Figure 1). The production of chemicals classified as toxic increased by 18 % between 1996 and 2005 and decreased slightly (-3%) in 2006 / 07. Over the last 12 years, statistics show there has been a steady growth of total chemicals production volume.

The share of toxic chemicals in total production was about 58% in both the EU-15 and the EU-25 in 2007. The absolute production volumes of carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic chemicals remained stable at around 33 million tonnes and 36 million tonnes in the EU-15 and the EU-25 respectively.

Statistics available from 2004 and after show that the 10 Member States, which joined the EU in 2004, produce only about 10% of all toxic chemicals in the EU-25 (data for Bulgaria and Romania, which joined in 2007, are not yet available). However, an in-depth analysis shows a steady growth (18%) of toxic chemicals production in these countries, with a strong increase for CMR chemicals (+33%). The share of toxic chemicals in total production increased from 55% to 61% between 2004 and 2007.

The coming years will show if the trend towards a relative decoupling of toxic chemicals production from the growth of total output and a Member State's Gross domestic product can be confirmed.

Data sources and availability

Eurostat has developed a production index of toxic chemicals, broken down into five toxicity classes. The indicator presents the trend in aggregated production volumes of chemicals which have been classified as toxic substances according to EU legislation.

This indicator monitors progress in shifting production from the most toxic chemicals to less toxic classes and addresses an important objective of REACH: to reduce risks by substitution of hazardous by less hazardous substances. The indicator does not provide information on the risk from the use of chemicals; production and consumption are not synonymous with exposure, as some chemicals are handled in closed systems, or as intermediates in controlled supply chains. The toxicity classes, beginning with the most dangerous, are:

carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) chemicals;
chronic toxic chemicals;
very toxic chemicals;
toxic chemicals;
chemicals classified as harmful.

The indicator is also published as a sustainable development indicator within the theme of public health.

Production volumes are extracted from PRODCOM (statistics on the production of manufactured goods) and are aggregated to the five classes according to their toxicity. EU-15 data cover the years from 1995 to 2007 while EU-25 data are available for the years 2004 to 2007.

Context

The Sixth Environment Action Programme 2002-2012 (sixth EAP) requires a complete overhaul of EU policies on chemicals management, of which REACH is a part. The major objective of REACH is to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment. This includes promoting alternative methods to assess the hazards of substances, the free circulation of substances on the internal market, and the enhancement of competitiveness and innovation in the EU chemical industry.

By increasing knowledge about the hazardous properties of chemicals, REACH is expected to enhance the communication and implementation of conditions of safe use in supply chains and the substitution of dangerous substances by less dangerous ones. Through different types of measures, REACH should lead to less risks to human health and the environment.

Further Eurostat information

Publications

Main tables

Sustainable development indicators, see:

Indicators

Public health

Sub-theme: DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

9. Index of production of toxic chemicals, by toxicity class (QP)