WRITTEN QUESTION E-2249/99

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: Limit values for ammonia in the EU

According to reports, the health of forests in central and eastern Europe is continuing to deteriorate. Experts say that ozone is the main culprit. Ozone is produced when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight. Ozone is a powerful oxidising agent which can, however, react with ammonia, a reducing agent, as a result of which the two chemicals are broken down into harmless nitrogen gas and hydrogen. The European Environment Agency forecasts that there will be 30 % more cars, 50 % more vans and lorries and 100 % more aircraft in the next decade. Scientists are of the opinion that it is completely illogical to introduce limit values for ammonia in the EU as long as emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides continue to increase.

Can the Commission confirm this?

Does it agree that ozone is a main cause of the deterioration in forest health?

Does it accept that ozone, if it reacts with ammonia, may be converted into nitrogen gas and hydrogen and that the introduction of limit values for ammonia emissions in the EU might therefore hinder efforts to prevent high ozone levels?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2000)

In the analysis underpinning the proposal on a directive for national emission ceilings (NEC)(1), the Commission has taken account of the predicted growth of transport. Technical progress, however, will significantly reduce emissions from various sectors, in particular from transport. The Commission estimated the future effect on the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile hydrocarbons (VOC) of implementing current legislation, including recently adopted directives on cleaner cars and fuels. By 2010 compared to 1990 levels, NOX and VOC emissions in the Community will fall by 48 % and 49 %, respectively. Moreover, the NEC proposal requires further reduction of emissions of these pollutants to 55 % for NOX and 60 % for VOC with the aim of reducing ozone exposure to human health and vegetation by up to 70 % during the next decade.

According to data from the European economic area (EEA) and the European monitoring and evaluation of pollutants (EMEP) programme emissions of these substances have already fallen by 10 % between 1990 and 1995. In conclusion, the Commission expects significant emission reductions of NOX and VOC as a result of its control strategies against acidification and ground-level ozone.

The Commission shares the concern that elevated ozone levels are a threat for forests and thus in its proposal for a new daughter directive for ozone(2), set a long-term objective and a target value for ozone for the protection of vegetation, including forests.

The Commission can confirm that ammonia can react with ozone. However, except in the immediate surroundings of large sources, ammonia concentrations in the ambient air are quite low in comparison to the mass of ozone filling the whole lower atmosphere. Given the relatively slow reaction rate between the two, the total quantity of removed ozone by reaction with ammonia is insignificant. So, the Commission cannot confirm that reducing ammonia emissions will result in rising ozone levels on a large scale.

Apart from a certain proportion of ammonia deposited in the vicinity of emission sources ammonia rather reacts with nitrate and sulphate and forms substances (ammonium nitrate and sulphate) which, because of

their longer life-time in the atmosphere, can be transported over long distances. The deposition of these species leads to an excessive supply of nitrogen compounds (eutrophication) of soil and waters while nitrate and sulphate compounds increase acidity. Both types of impact constitute a serious threat to ecosystems and biodiversity to which ammonia emissions contribute. Therefore, tackling acidification and eutrophication requires reducing emissions of ammonia. The Commission is convinced that this does not conflict with the goal of reducing ozone pollution. On the contrary, the complex links between pollutants and effects clearly require an integrated approach as brought forward in terms of effect based emission ceilings for the four relevant pollutants.

(1) COM(9) 125 final, completed by SEC(1999) 2004.

(2) COM(9) 125 final, completed by SEC(1999) 2004.