Hazardous substances

Reduced emissions from paint and varnish

Published:

17 June 2008

From 2002 to 2006, emissions of hazardous substances from the use of paint and varnish decreased. Emissions of so-called CMR-substances, i.e. substances that can harm reproduction or cause cancer, were reduced by a quarter. This may be due to the move from solvent-based to water-based products. The downward trend in emission of CMR-substances is also evident when all other product groups, such as fuels, are included.

Approximately 6 million tonnes of 450 selected hazardous substances in products declared to the Norwegian Product Register are consumed in Norway each year (see box), a large part of which consists of hazardous substances in fuels for ships. Another important product group is raw materials used in the manufacturing industry, while paint and varnish represent the largest volumes among household products containing hazardous substances.

Emissions of hazardous substances in 2002-2006 relative to the emission level in 2002, by hazard category.

Emissions from paint and varnish distributed by non-manufacturing industries, 2006. Per cent

Emissions from the use of paint and varnish in sectors other than manufacturing industries, by hazard category, 2002.2006. Tonnes

About the emission estimates

Increased awareness of the effects of hazardous substances on human health and the environment has led to a growing demand for information regarding the use and release patterns of such substances. Over the past few years Statistics Norway, in close cooperation with the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) and the Norwegian Product Register, has developed new statistics on the consumption and emission of hazardous substances in Norway.

At present, the statistics cover emissions of hazardous substances caused by the use of products that are subject to the duty of declaration to the Norwegian Product Register. The selection of substances is based on the Norwegian government’s lists of hazardous substances (“The list of Dangerous Substances” and “The list of Priority Substances”).

The calculation model takes into account that not all hazardous substances consumed are released into the surroundings and thus pose a risk to humans or the environment. Emissions of a hazardous substance to the environment (air, soil and water) are calculated by multiplying the amount consumed by an emission factor. The consumption of a substance is expressed as the total of production and import less export as declared to the Product Register. The emission factor is the fraction of the substance that is not incorporated into new products, transformed into other substances (e.g. by combustion) or handled in some other way that prevents emission (e.g. waste management). The fraction of a substance emitted is assumed to be dependent both on the type of product and the sector in which the product is used (private households included). The emission factors are mainly based on studies by Swedish authorities and research institutes (Kemikalieinspektionen and Swedish Methodology for Environmental Data). In the present model, most emission factors are both product and sector specific. At the present emission figures are given for all recipients as a whole. The consistency is maintained through yearly updates and recalculations of the entire time-series.

As the statistics are under development the results should be interpreted with caution. The model is based on a number of assumptions, and the uncertainty is probably highest for the emission factors. Consequently, the estimated level of emissions probably has a relatively high uncertainty, but less so for the emission trend . Statistics Norway hopes that the emission calculations will be a useful tool in the task of reducing the risks connected to the use of chemicals in Norway. Recent work on the model is described in a report in English. Previous work is described in several reports in Norwegian (se below).

Using emission factors specific for different products and industrial sectors, Statistics Norway has produced estimates on the fraction of the hazardous substances that can be assumed to be released into the surroundings every year. Emissions are divided into four hazard categories based on the hazardous properties of the different substances: CMR (may cause cancer, be mutagenic or generate reproductive disorders), chronic toxic, sensitising and/or dangerous for the environment (Table 1). Substances with more than one hazardous property are placed in several hazard categories. The method and the results are described in detail in the report ” Use and emissions of hazardous substances in Norway, 2002-2006 ”.

The compilations show that an average 0.3 per cent of the hazardous content of declared products is emitted to air, water or soil every year. Product groups used in large quantities, such as fuels and raw materials, contribute considerably to the emissions, even though only small fractions of the substances are released. For other product groups used in smaller volumes, most of the hazardous content is released into the surroundings sooner or later. This is the case for many products used in private households, such as solvent-containing paint and varnish.

Consumption and emissions of substances by hazard category. 2002-2006.
1 000 tonnes
Consumption	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006


CMR	5 883	6 548	7 474	5 439	5 245
Chronic toxic	264	238	219	187	206
Sensitising	141	144	126	154	148
Dangerous for the environment	75	83	82	78	63

Emissions	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006


CMR	15.2	13.9	11.7	13.8	12.9
Chronic toxic	1.1	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.9
Sensitising	2.9	2.9	3.2	2.9	2.9
Dangerous for the environment	4.2	4.4	5.3	5.1	4.5

While the fraction released has been stable between 2002 and 2006, there have been substantial changes in the emission trends for the different hazard categories (Figure 1).

There has been a significant reduction in the emissions of CMR-substances from 2002 to 2006. This decline is mainly due to lower emissions of CMR-substances from the use of energy goods for marine transport. Emissions from products containing substances with chronic toxic effects have also fallen since 2002. These emissions are related to both fuel consumption and emissions from the manufacturing industry. The emissions of substances that are dangerous for the environment increased in the beginning of the period, but the increase had been offset by a decline by 2006. This is mostly due to a decline in the use of these substances in manufacturing industries. However, this reduction is partly counteracted by increased use of biocides in fish farming. Meanwhile, the use and emissions of substances with sensitising effects have been quite stable during the past five years. Emissions from the main source of these substances - paint and varnish - have decreased, but several other product types, displaying partly counteracting trends, also contribute considerably to the emission figures.

Reduced emissions from paint and varnish

The estimates for paint and varnish illustrate how the new statistics on emissions of hazardous substances from use of products can be further analysed. The two main consumers of paint and varnish outside industry are the construction industry and private households. In 2006 they accounted for about 59 and 36 per cent of non-industrial emissions related to paint and varnish (Figure 2). Paint and varnish are an important source of emissions of sensitising substances, and for this category there is a decreasing trend in emissions. The emissions from paint and varnish of CMR-substances and substances dangerous for the environment are also considerable, and seem to be decreasing (Figure 3). From 2002 to 2006, emissions of CMR-substances were reduced by a quarter. This decrease was evident in both the construction industry and private households, as well as in the manufacturing industry. Emissions from the use of paint and varnish in the manufacturing industry (such as shipbuilding) are comparable to the emissions from private households, but are, as mentioned above, not included in the analysis of this product group ( see report for details ).

This trend in emissions from paint and varnish corresponds quite well with an apparent ongoing shift in paint consumption, from solvent-based to water-based products: While the production and net import of solvent-based paint and varnish decreased by 12 per cent from 2002 to 2006, the production and net import of water-based paint and varnish rose by 25 per cent (Statistics Norway’s statistics on external trade and manufacturing statistics ). If water-based paint replaces solvent-based products, emission estimates will decrease. Firstly, water-based paints contain less hazardous substances and secondly fewer products will be covered by the statistics, since most water-based paints are not subject to the duty of declaration, due to low concentrations of hazardous substances. The downward emission trend might also indicate that the content of hazardous substances in labelled and declared paints has been reduced since 2002.

Substance profile of emissions from paint and varnish used in non-manufacturing industries, 2006. Per cent

Emissions of CMR-substances from paint and varnish, 2002-2006. Tonnes

Emissions of sensitising substances from paint and varnish, 2002-2006.

A new tool to reach environmental goals

The emission estimates are intended as a risk reduction tool, cf. national target no. 3 (“The risk that releases and use of chemicals will cause injury to health or environmental damage will be minimised”) in Report No. 14 to the Storting (2006-2007). Through assumptions and simplifications, easily accessible information concerning a complex risk picture can be provided. The emission estimates allow us to systematise information and facilitate the ranking of hazardous substances according to assumed risk of damage. This can simplify the process of pinpointing areas that require special attention. These areas can then be examined more closely and new knowledge can be incorporated into the estimation model.

The development in estimated emissions of hazardous substances gives a rough indication of how the risk to human health and the environment changes over time. However, the emission estimates are not a measure of the real risk posed by the substances. Firstly, not all dangerous substances are included in the statistics. Secondly, more specific information concerning both the recipient and the properties of the substance is needed to give a realistic estimation of risk.

In addition to the extent of emissions, the risk is dependent on the susceptibility of the exposed parties and the toxicity, physical/chemical characteristics, persistence and the substance’s ability to accumulate in the food chain. Some hazardous substances do not lose their harmful effect in the course of one year, but accumulate in humans, animals or the environment. The risk to humans and the environment is thus not just dependent on the emissions to the surroundings in one given year, but also on long-lived substances emitted in previous years. This means that even if it appears that we have stabilised the yearly consumption of substances dangerous to human health and the environment, we will continuously be surrounded by dangerous substances. It may also mean that the risk of damage decreases even at higher emission levels, if long-lived substances are replaced by substances that are broken down more easily.

Some of the substances in the selection made for these statistics are long-lived and may accumulate in animals and the environment. However, most of the substances are relatively short-lived, and we thus have reason to believe that the estimates of emissions of substances dangerous to human health and the environment are an applicable indicator for risk of damage. Comparisons of emission level over time can give an indication of whether the risk is increasing or decreasing.

Paint and varnish contain substances belonging to several hazard categories. The substance profile of paint and varnish in 2006 is given in Figure 4. Among the CMR-substances, the largest fraction of emissions comes from toluene, 2-butanone oxime and 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate. The latter two show a clear decline between 2002 and 2006. There was a decrease in the emissions of toluene in the beginning of the period. However, in 2006 the emissions were back at the 2002 level (Figure 5). For sensitising substances, phtalic anhydride is the main component, and the emissions of this substance decreased from 2002 to 2006 (Figure 6).