Emissions to air of hazardous substances and particulate matter, 1990-2001

Both copper and chromium are on the authorities list over priority substances. The target is to reduce the emissions of these substances considerably before 2010. Arsenic is not on this list, but on the authorities OBS-list over substances considered to represent problems on national level.

Wear of brake linings largest source for copper emissions

Emissions of copper to air were calculated to 19.6 tonnes in 2001. Emission from road traffic is the largest source of copper emissions. More than 40 percent of the national copper emission in 2001 is due to wear of brake linings, whereas combustion of fuel accounts for 26 percent and manufacturing industries for 13 percent. Emissions of copper have been reduced by 10 percent in the period 1990 to 2001 and 4 percent since 1999. The emission reductions are mainly due to lower emissions from the manufacturing industries.

Chromium emission strongly reduced

The air emissions of chromium were estimated to 7 tonnes in 2001.The largest sources for chromium emission are production of ferro-alloys, combustion in industries and road traffic. The emissions have been reduced by 45 percent in the period 1990 to 2001, and by 37 percent since 1999. The reductions are mainly due to decreased activity and stop at a sinter plant in addition to installation of cleaning device systems.

Small, but uncertain reduction in arsenic emissions

2 165 kilos of arsenic were emitted to air in 2001. 34 percent came from carbide production which is the largest source for arsenic air emission today. Before 2000 emissions from ferro-alloy production were the dominating source, but due to decreased activity and later stop at a sinter plant emissions were reduced by more than 80 percent in the period 1990 to 2001. Combustion of waste wood in industry and wood-firing in households are also important sources for arsenic emissions to air.

Uncertainties

The emission data are calculated by Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority. They are based on measurements from large industrial plants and combustion plants, together with calculations based on activity data and emission factors. Large uncertainty is attached to statistics for heavy metals due to variations in reported emission data and that emission factors used not necessarily are ideal for conditions in Norway.

Figures and tables are available in Norwegian .