Air Pollutants

Definition

Air Pollutants are substances (particles or gasses) released to the atmosphere with potentially harmful effect to public health or environment:

• direct sulphur dioxides (SOx/SO2) emissions
• direct nitrogen oxides (NOx/NO2) emissions
• direct ammonia (NH3) emissions
• direct particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions
• direct non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions
• direct total heavy metals (HM) emissions (encompassing cadmium, mercury and lead)

Context of EU Law

Defined in Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC

See Also

• Green House Gas Emissions