Air Quality
VOC Inventories
ESIG Inventory Survey Update
We have successfully completed our Inventory Survey, and the data is currently being analyzed by TNO. We anticipate the final report to be available in early 2025. Here’s a brief overview of the preliminary findings:
The ESIG 2023 sales data indicates an overall decrease in solvent sales across the EU27 and the UK. 2023 represents the lowest sales volume recorded in the entire time series.
Key sectors showing the largest declines include Functional Solvents, Blowing Agents, and Coatings (including professional and consumer segments).
At the country level, Germany, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands reported the largest sales decreases.
Stay tuned for more updates as we finalize the report!
UPDATE – EMEP / NILU Intensive Measurement Period (IMP) on VOC in 2024
This year, to further advance the understanding of VOC emissions and their implications for air quality and public health, ESIG is proud to once again support Norwegian institute for Air research (NILU) in its air quality assessment campaign as part of the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP). The EMEP and NILU Institute have confirmed a new Intensive Measurement Period (IMP) in 2024, focusing on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This initiative follows the successful IMP conducted in the summer of 2022, where over a hundred different VOCs and organic tracers were measured at 27 sites across Europe during a week-long heatwave characterized by high ozone levels. Results from the 2022 campaign are currently being processed for publication, with preliminary plots and information available on the TFMM webpage.
The focus areas for the IMP-2024 include:
- Speciated VOC Emissions: To address knowledge gaps, this year’s campaign will emphasize measurements near emission sources, particularly in industrial and urban areas, including harbours. We aim to incorporate regional (EMEP/ACTRIS) sites nearby, ideally using twin sites when feasible.
- Enhanced Temporal Resolution: Recognizing the varying lifetimes and evaporation potentials of VOCs, our priority is to achieve high temporal resolution rather than extensive spatial coverage. We intend to increase the number of high-resolution measurements compared to the 2022 campaign. Additionally, we will complement automated methods with manual sampling at select sites to gather detailed specifications.
- Extended Duration: Unlike the one-week duration of IMP-2022, the IMP-2024 will span an entire month. This extended timeframe will allow us to capture emissions variations more effectively and facilitate comparisons with model calculations.
Our collaboration with NILU is vital for advancing our understanding of VOC emissions and their implications for air quality and public health. We look forward to contributing to this important initiative and enhancing our collective knowledge in this critical area.
Insights from the EMEP Joint Session
On September 9, 2024, the Joint Session of the EMEP Steering Body and Working Group on Effects convened at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, focusing on critical issues surrounding air quality and public health. A primary concern highlighted during the session is the urgent need to address methane emissions, which are crucial precursors to ozone formation.
An integrated strategy for reducing methane is essential for effectively lowering ozone concentrations. Current projections suggest that peak ozone levels could decline by 5–10% by 2050 under existing scenarios. Optimistically, significant reductions in nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), and methane could yield reductions of up to 20%. However, even these optimistic outcomes would still surpass World Health Organization (WHO) limits, underscoring the need for immediate and robust action.
Health-based objectives discussed at the session aim to mitigate the severe health risks posed by air pollution, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and cancer. The ambitious goal is to reduce health risks from particulate matter and ozone by 50% by 2050. While achieving this target appears feasible at the UNECE level, significant challenges persist at the country level. The interaction between ozone levels and global methane emissions complicates efforts to meet these health targets, indicating that a comprehensive approach is necessary.
The complexities of reducing ozone levels are further underscored by the interconnections among various pollutants, particularly methane. The commitment to a healthier future requires coordinated action at both regional and global levels, emphasizing innovative solutions and collaborative efforts across nations. The urgency of revising the Gothenburg Protocol reflects pressing political and environmental needs, particularly regarding health-based targets for air quality.
