View our privacy statement for more information and how to manage them.
A wide variety of substances emitted into the atmosphere may cause air pollution and adverse impacts on human health and the environment. These substances include sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter (PM), ammonia (NH4) volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The result of these emissions include increased ground-level ozone formation which impacts upon human health and vulnerable eco-systems. Large parts of Europe have been impacted by acidification and tropospheric ozone.
Transboundary air pollution is addressed under the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution to which Ireland is a Party. Since 1979 the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution has addressed the environmental problems of acidification and tropospheric ozone through scientific collaboration and policy negotiation among approximately 50 Parties.
Emission Inventories –Solvents and Other Product UseThe EPA compiles air pollutant emission inventories and reports to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). Solvent use is a major contributor to emissions of VOCs which are a transboundary air pollutant. On a European scale its contribution is roughly a quarter of the total anthropogenic VOC emissions.
In order to improve the accuracy of our emission inventory data, the EPA requires activity data on solvent usage from companies operating in your sector. Without this detailed national activity data, emission inventories are estimated using proxy data which result in less accurate and more uncertain air emission inventories.
In order compile accurate and robust air emission inventories, the Agency requests that the survey (downloadable below) be completed and returned by the 14th June 2013.
The survey is intended for data analysis only and will used to compile sectorial level air emission inventories. It is important to note that no individual company’s data will be made publically available. Individual company data provided in this survey will be treated as confidential.Please note that while all data requested may not be available, solvent, paint or ink usage and quantity sent to waste vendors should be obtainable. In addition, suppliers and waste vendors should be able to provide this information. Please click on the relevant link below to download the relevant survey.
Solvent Usage Survey
Surveys can be returned to surveyreturns@epa.ie
For any queries please contact s.barry@epa.ie
