PRTR-España requires information on 115 pollutant subtances: the 91 pollutants covered by the Regulation (EC) 166/2006 and, as established by the Annex 2 to the RD 508/2007, more substances are included to:
- air (total suspended particulate matter TSP, thallium, antimony, cobalt, manganese, vanadium and TOC) and
- to water (COD and TOC).
- For some groups of substances are requested, if available, information from some of its isomers such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), brominated diphenylethers (PBDE), trichlorobenzenes (TCBs), xylenes and DDT.
In PRTR-España, the public information on releases, can also be consulted by different categories of group of subtances, according to their affection to the environment and/or human health:
(Note: The specific information given by type of substance is only available in Spanish).
Greenhouse gases (GHG)
Greenhouse gases are those gaseous constituents of the Atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, which tend to trap heat radiating from the Earth's surface, thus causing warming in the lower Atmosphere, which is considered to lead to Climate Change. This property causes the greenhouse effect. Water vapour (H
2O), carbon dioxide (CO
2), nitrous oxide (N
2O), methane (CH
4), and ozone (O
3) are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth’s Atmosphere. Moreover there are a number of entirely human-made greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF
6).
According to the Kyoto Protocol (annex A), gases of human origin are:
More information in Montreal Protocol, IPCC and Greenhouse gas emissions Inventory of Spain.
Heavy metals
Heavy metals are subset of chemical elements, which are generally natural constituents of the Earth's crust that exhibit metallic properties. They are considered to be associated with contamination and potential toxicity or ecotoxicity.
The heavy metals are (according to the
Real Decreto 653/2003, de 30 de marzo, sobre incineración de residuos):
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have adverse effects to human health or to de environment.
The United Nations (UN) has set up important mechanisms to regulate and control POPs. The most ambitious of these is the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, whose objective is to protect human health and the environment from these chemicals. In Europe, Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 is the common legal framework by which the requirements of the Stockholm Convention are carried out, and both establish the obligation to draw up National Implementation Plans (NIPs).
More information in
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Substances that deplete de ozone layer
Among the anthropogenic substances that cause a decrease in the ozone concentration in the middle layers of the Atmosphere (Stratosfere), generating extremely harmful effects because of its oxidizing effect for life on Earth are the following:
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer are dedicated to the protection of the Earth’s Ozone Layer, reducing and eliminating the use of these substances. In the European Union was developed the Regulation (EC) 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 29 June 2000, on substances that deplete the ozone layer.
More information in
Montreal Protocol.
Acidifying and eutrophying substances and ozone precursors
The emission of
acidifying gases into the atmosphere (SO
2, NO
x and NH
3) returns to the surface directly or indirectly, after suffering a chemical transformation (Sulfuric or Nitric acid, Ammonium sulfate, Ammonium nitrate), causing major damage to sensitive natural ecosystems to acidification. Pollutants are easily dispersed and remain in the air for several days so it can be transported long distances.
Eutrophying gases (NO
x and NH
3) are those that promote eutrophication in surface water bodies, the process by which water undergoes abnormal nutrient enrichment leading to adverse effects such as loss of quality, decreased oxygen, appearance of toxins, etc.
Ozone precursors (NMVOC, CO, NO
x and to a lesser extent, CH
4) are substances that promote the formation of ozone in the lower layers of the Atmosphere (Troposphere) resulting, in high concentrations, damage to human health, the vegetation and ecosystems, as well as being an important factor to consider with regard to Climate Change.
In order to strengthen the protection of the environment and human health from these risks, the European Union adopted Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants. The pollutants included in its scope are:
Pesticides
Pesticides are substances and products intended to influence fundamental processes in living organisms. They are used to kill or control harmful organisms such as weeds or insects vectors of disease. Some pesticides can contribute to high agricultural yields and help to ensure that good quality food is available at reasonable prices. Other pesticides are important for public health protection and for preservation of materials. At the same time, pesticides can have very negative effects on human health and the environment.
Other substances
Other substances not included in any of the above groups are:
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Total nitrogen (N)
- Total phosphorus (P)
- Chloro-alkanes (C10-C13)
- 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC)
- Dichloromethane (DCM)
- Halogenated organic compounds (as AOX)
- Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD)
- Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PER)
- Trichlorobenzenes (TCBs)
- 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane
- Trichloroethylene
- Trichloromethane
- Vinyl chloride
- Anthracene
- Benzene
- Brominated diphenylethers (PBDE)
- Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP/NPEs)
- Ethyl benzene
- Ethylene oxide
- Naphthalene
- Organotin compounds (as total Sn)
- Di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
- Phenols (as total C)
- Toluene
- Total organic carbon (TOC) (as total C or COD/3)
- Xylenes
- Chlorides (as total Cl)
- Chlorine and inorganic compounds (as HCl)
- Asbestos
- Cyanides (as total CN)
- Fluorides (as total F)
- Fluorine and inorganic compounds (as HF)
- Hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
- Particulate matter (PM10)
- Octylphenols and Octylphenol ethoxylates
- Fluoranthene
- Benzo(g,h,i)perylene (and its isomers benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene)
