Emissions for some heavy metals and organic pollutants increased in the EU from 2009 to 2010. The 1999 Gothenburg Protocol of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution set limits for four pollutants to be implemented by 2010. Emissions from these pollutants—nitrogen oxide, non-methane volatile compounds, ammonia and sulphur oxide—were reduced by 47%, 56%, 28% and 82% from 1990 to 2010, respectively. The Protocol was updated in May with 2020 goals for reducing emissions from the four pollutants as well as fine particulate matter, but these limits have not taken effect. In 2010, emissions of nitrogen oxides were higher than the standard in Denmark, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden. Denmark, Spain and Germany exceeded limits for non-methane volatile organic compounds. Denmark, Spain and Finland exceeded limits for ammonia. From 2009 to 2010, member states’ emissions of chromium, lead, cadmium and arsenic increased 12.6%, 9.1%, 7.5% and 4.9%, respectively.

Source: European Environment Agency