New European pollution data
European emissions register gets updated with data from 2004 and the 10 new EU member states.
An updated version of the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER) containing emissions data from 2004 became available online in mid-November. It now holds information for the 10 new EU member states. Launched in 2004, EPER records emissions of 50 air and water pollutants produced by 12,000 industrial facilities in all EU member states and Norway in 2004 and in 2001.
Total emissions were generally higher in 2004 than in 2001, the first year for which EPER holds data. This may be because the 2004 records include data on more chemicals and facilities. Emissions of the air pollutants hydrogen cyanide and PAHs rose by 79% and 53%, respectively. But organic water pollutants were 11% lower, possibly because of more efficient equipment in wastewater treatment plants, according to the EPER report published by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency.
