EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/72

(2004/C 78 E/0071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2056/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(20 June 2003)

Subject: Ethylene

Ethylene is one of the volatile organic compounds released into the atmosphere through incineration processes, by the petrochemicals industry, road transport and through the burning of timber, etc. However, it is also a natural plant hormone involved in the maturing of plants and causes, inter alia, fruit to ripen, leaves to fall, dormant periods to cease and flower parts to mature, and it is physiologically active in very low concentrations (0,01-0,1 ppm). In its role as a plant hormone, ethylene is the most important VOC which has a direct effect on plants. Accordingly, even minimal pollution with this hormone has (or may have) serious consequences for various plants and agricultural crops. In various locations, ethylene has been shown to be present in much higher concentrations than the values regarded in scientific literature as normal ambient concentrations. Nevertheless, with regard to ethylene, no critical level has, to date, been laid down for exposure of vegetation to such compounds, nor any specific emission standards for ethylene which might restrict excessive emissions from point sources. A farmer whose crops have been damaged by ethylene has no opportunity to claim compensation, since no norms or critical values have been established.

1. Can the Commission confirm that, since the 1970s, average values of ethylene in the atmosphere have increased from some 5 ppb to 30-50 ppb?

2. Does the Commission have any emission data for ethylene and measurements of ethylene in the ambient air which give a clear picture of the order of magnitude and the breadth of this problem in Europe, of the differences between rural and urban areas and of the possible peak values in certain areas, such as in the vicinity of petrochemical plants or other emission sources?

3. Does the Commission intend to initiate a more targeted programme for monitoring ethylene, lay down a critical threshold value, take specific measures and establish standards for industrial processes, possibly doing so as part of the review of the Clean Air For Europe Programme (CAFE) in 2004?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(29 July 2003)

Alongside its role as a plant hormone and the possible consequent effects of ambient levels on vegetation, ethylene (ethene) is one of the substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which favour the formation of ozone pollution. It is therefore covered by emission controls aimed at reducing VOCs, although standards are based on a weighted average based on photo-oxidisation potential, rather than being specifically targeted at individual substances.

Community legislation provides a mechanism for Member States to exchange data on air quality, but data exchange on ethylene (ethene) concentrations is not mandatory and almost no data has been exchanged so far. For this reason the Commission can neither confirm nor contradict the figures quoted by the Honourable Member concerning average values of ethylene in the atmosphere. This situation may improve in the future as a result of the Directive 2002/3/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air (1), which requires Member States to set up ambient air monitoring stations for volatile organic compounds as ozone precursors. Ethylene is one of the substances recommended to be monitored in this context.

The picture is similar as regards emission data, since Member States generally report emissions of volatile organic compounds as a whole, rather than substance by substance.

At the moment the Commission is not aware of any convincing evidence that current levels of ethylene in the atmosphere give rise to significant effects on vegetation, and there is, consequently, no current intention to initiate a more targeted monitoring programme.

(1) OJ L 67, 9.3.2002.