First European pollutant release register published

A comprehensive new European pollutant release and transfer register – called E-PRTR – was launched earlier this month by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency. The purpose of the register is to improve public access to environmental information. It contains information about the emissions of pollutants to air, water and land by industrial facilities throughout Europe, along with annual data for 91 substances. The register covers more than 24 000 facilities in 65 economic activities.

More specifically, information in the register covers 30% of total NOxⁱ (nitrogen oxides) emissions (i.e. most emissions from sources other than transport) and 76% of total SOx (sulphur oxides) emissions to air in the EU-27 countries and Norway. The website has a powerful search engine that allows visitors to search using one or more criteria and a map tool.

The register can be found here:

http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/