About: Pollutants

Air pollutants strongly linked to Alzheimer’s

The chronic neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer's could be caused by particulate matter produced by exhaust fumes, power plants and agriculture, according to a new study. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Brexit would return Britain to being ‘dirty man of Europe’

Britain risks becoming the “dirty man of Europe” again with filthy beaches, foul air and weak conservation laws if it leaves the European Union, a group of leading environmentalists warned on Wednesday (3 February).

Smog causes 84,000 premature deaths annually in Italy

The European Commission is ready to proceed with infringement procedures against Italy on account of its dire smog problem. EURACTIV Italy reports.

Europeans ‘suffering’ due to air pollution inaction, says Potočnik

Environment Commissioner Janez Poto?nik has scolded European countries for their inaction on EU laws to combat air pollution,  which causes an estimated 420,000 premature deaths yearly in the Union.

Parliament approves Industrial Emissions Directive

The European Parliament yesterday (7 July) endorsed a new directive strengthening pollution limits that industrial installations will have to comply with.

EU waters down industrial pollution law

The EU has struck an agreement on a planned Industrial Emissions Directive, imposing stricter limits on air, soil and water pollution but allowing coal-fired plants derogations until mid-2020.

Ministers to reject industrial pollution ‘safety net’

A proposal, backed by Germany and Austria, to place a cap on noxious emissions spewed out by a wide range of industries, including steel, chemicals and processed food plants, is set to be voted down by EU environment ministers today (2 March) over concerns that the measure would be too costly.

MEPs back limits on industrial pollution

The European Parliament's environment committee yesterday (22 January) approved the introduction of EU-wide emission limits to a Commission proposal to revise an EU directive regulating industrial pollution.

EU plans shipping emissions cap

The Commission has said that it will draft legislation, by the end of the year, aimed at tackling the shipping industry's rapidly growing contribution to climate change, by including the sector in Europe's carbon dioxide cap-and-trade system.

US environment agency gives climate protection award to the Commission

The 'F-gas team' at the Commission's DG environment was rewarded for the open way in which it handled the phase out of greenhouse gases in cars' air conditioning systems.

New rules on F-gases adopted as bill goes through Parliament

F-gases in cars' air conditioning systems are to be banned from 2014, but will be maintained in refrigerators and other home equipment. Environmentalists say Parliament bowed to industry pressures.

Proposed ban on F-gases gets cool reception

The ban on fluorinated gases (F-gases) proposed by the Parliament's environment committee has left industry concerned and NGOs only mildly happy.

Eleven highly dangerous chemicals set to be banned

The Parliament has given its go ahead to an immediate ban on 11 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). A final adoption by the Council could take place on 2 March.

MEPs consider possible ban on fluorinated gases in car’s air conditioning systems

The Parliament's Environment Committee will be examining a draft regulation on fluorinated gases with global warming effects on 17 February. The draft has been tightened to include a ban on their use in cars by 2011.

Commission claims mid-term success in reducing car pollution

In its annual progress report, the Commission says CO2 emissions from new cars in the EU went down by 10.8 per cent between 1995 and 2002 and encourages reluctant manufacturers to meet the 2010 targets.

Parliament Committee votes to outlaw Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

On 21 January 2004, the Parliament's Environment Committee voted to phase out the production, trade and use of POPs.

Industry worried about plans to control fluorinated gases

A stakeholder workshop, hosted by the European Fluorocarbon industry, discussed possible plans by the European Commission to regulate the use of fluorinated gases on 16 April. In an open and transparent debate, the representatives of European Fluorocarbon Technical Committee (EFCTC) and the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) expressed their doubts over some of the Commission's intentions, pointing to the positive energy effiency and safety aspects of the use of these gases.