PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANT EMISSIONS (PAHS, DIOXINS AND FURANS)

    Descrizione 1
    Update date
    Authors

    Daniela Romano

    Abstract
    Immagine
    Abstract

    The indicator represents the trend of national persistent organic pollutant emissions by sector, from 1990 to 2022. The target set as a lower emission value than in 1990 was achieved for both PAHs (-30%) and dioxins and furans (-43%), with different trends.

    Description

    Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins and furans are organic compounds that derive from energy production activities, thermal plants and industrial processes. Other minor sources of emissions are the traffic and incineration of organic waste. PAHs are also released into the atmosphere from natural sources such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires and the activity of some species of microorganisms. These groups of substances have health relevance for their toxicity and persistence in the environment (they give rise to bioaccumulation phenomena) and, as carcinogens of different intensity, 2,3,7,8 Tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin are classified by IARC as certain carcinogens, PAHs are probable, and dioxins and furans are possible.

    Purpose

    The estimation of total and disaggregated national emissions by production process of PAHs, dioxins and furans, makes it possible to assess the emission trend in the period under review and compare it with the objective set by the Aarhus Protocol.

    Policy relevance and utility for users
    It is of national scope or it is applicable to environmental issues at the regional level but of national relevance.
    It can describe the trend without necessarily evaluating it.
    It is simple and easy to interpret.
    It is sensitive to changes occurring in the environment and/or in human activities
    It provides a representative picture of environmental conditions, environmental pressures, and societal responses
    It provides a basis for international comparisons.
    Ha una soglia o un valore di riferimento con cui può essere confrontato
    Analytical soundness
    Be based on international standards and international consensus about its validity;
    Be theoretically well founded in technical and scientific terms
    Presents reliability and validity of measurement and data collection methods
    Temporal comparability
    Spatial comparability
    Measurability (data)
    Adequately documented and of known quality
    Updated at regular intervals in accordance with reliable procedures
    Readily available or made available at a reasonable cost/benefit ratio
    An “adequate” spatial coverage
    An “appropriate” temporal coverage
    Main regulatory references and objectives

    The Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (1998), under the Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (1979), sets as an target the reduction of emissions of dioxins, furans and PAHs below the levels achieved in 1990 (or, alternatively, every other year between 1985 and 1995).

    DPSIR
    Pressure
    Indicator type
    Performance (B)
    References

    ISPRA, 2024. Italian Emission Inventory 1990-2022. Informative Inventory Report 2024

    ISPRA, Pantaleoni M., Taurino E., De Lauretis R.. Emissioni in atmosfera di PCB e HCB in Italia dal 1990 al 2006, 2008.

    R. De Lauretis, Dioxin and furan Italian national and local emission inventories, in “Dioxin’99, 19th International Symposium”, vol.41 pp 487-490, Venezia, 1999

    Pastorelli G., De Lauretis R., De Stefanis P., Fanelli. R, Martines C., Morselli L., Pistone L., Viviano G., Sviluppo di fattori di emissione da inceneritori di rifiuti urbani lombardi e loro applicazione all’inventario nazionale delle diossine, su Ingegneria Ambientale ANNO XXX N.1 Gennaio 2001, 2001

    Frequenza di rilevazione dei dati
    Annuale
    Fonte dei dati
    ISPRA
    Spatial coverage

    National

    Time coverage

    1990 - 2022

    Processing methodology

    Estimate made as part of the preparation of the national inventory of emissions into the atmosphere. As far as PAHs are concerned, the unit of measurement is the tonne (t). For dioxins and furans, emissions are reported in grams of toxic equivalent according to the I-Teq toxicity classification (g I-Teq). For air pollutants, the methodology used is that indicated by the European Environment Agency (EMEP/EEA Guidebook - 2019). For the description of the estimation methodology, please refer to the Informative Inventory Report – IIR 2024 (https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/pubblicazioni/rapporti/; https://www.ceip.at/status-of-reporting-and-review-results/2024-submission). The annual emission update involves the revision of the historical series on the basis of the latest information and methodological developments, to ensure the consistency and compatibility of the inventory.

    Update frequency
    Year
    Qualità dell'informazione

    Emission data are the official reference source for the verification of international commitments, due to ISPRA's role as the body responsible for the annual national inventory of atmospheric emissions. Estimates of persistent organic pollutant emissions are calculated in accordance with the characteristics of transparency, accuracy, consistency, comparability and completeness required by the reference methodology.

    State
    Good
    Trend
    Positive
    State assessment/description

    The emission values of PAHs in 2022 stood at 63 t, while for dioxins and furans a level of 304 gI-Teq was observed. In 1990, emission levels were 90 t for PAHs and 529 gI-Teq for dioxins and furans. The target set by the Aarhus Protocol, to reduce emissions of dioxins, furans and PAHs below their 1990 levels, has been met for both substances (Tables 1 and 2).

    Trend assessment/description

    Emissions of PAHs and dioxins and furans, from 1990 to 2022, decreased by 30% and 43% respectively, thus outlining a positive trend (Tables 1, 2 and Figure 1).

    Comments

    Dioxin and furan emissions have decreased in all sectors since 1990, except for production processes (+20%) (Table 2). In 2022, dioxin and furan emissions derive 33% from non-industrial combustion processes, 27% from production processes, 17% from the waste sector, 20% from combustion processes in industry and smaller shares from the road transport sector (3%), combustion processes for energy production (2%). A marked decrease is observed between 1995 and 2002 and between 2008 and 2011 for the use of abatement technologies in the main domestic steel production industry (Table 2, Figure 1). PAH emissions are reduced by 30% in 2022 compared to 1990. In detail, there is a fairly constant trend from 1990 to 1999, followed by a sharp decrease between 1999 and 2000 and a recovery from 2005 onwards. The sharp decline between 1999-2000 is mainly due to technological improvements in production processes (steel mills), whose emissions fall by a total of 85% between 1990 and 2022. On the other hand, emissions from the non-industrial combustion sector rise sharply during the period under review (+58%), accentuated by the large increase in wood consumption for heating purposes. These two sectors account for 12% and 80% of total PAH emissions in 2022, respectively (Table 1, Figure 1).

    Data
    Headline

    Table 1: Emissions of PAHs – Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by sector

    Data source

    ISPRA

    Data legend

    A: Energy production and transformation industry combustion
    B: Non-industrial combustion
    C: Industrial combustion
    D: Production processes
    F: Solvent and product use
    G: Road transport
    H: Other mobile sources
    I: Waste treatment and disposal
    L: Agriculture

    Note

    Emission values have been updated in accordance with the annual update of the national emission inventory.

    Headline

    Table 2: Emissions of Dioxins and Furans by sector

    Data source

    ISPRA

    Data legend

    A: Energy production and transformation industry combustion
    B: Non-industrial combustion
    C: Industrial combustion
    D: Production processes
    F: Solvent and product use
    G: Road transport
    H: Other mobile sources
    I: Waste treatment and disposal
    L: Agriculture

    Note

    Emission values have been updated in accordance with the annual update of the national emission inventory.

    Thumbnail
    Headline

    Figure 1: Trend of national emissions of persistent organic pollutants indexed to 1990

    Data source

    ISPRA

    Note

    Emission values have been updated in accordance with the annual update of the national emission inventory.

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