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Emissions of organic matter

REMOVE [1]

The emission of organic matter is a key environmental problem. Among the pollutants mentioned are Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). BOD, COD and TOC are key indicators of the oxygen content of water. The pressure on the environment caused by discharges from urban waste water treatment plants can be estimated by reporting the quantities of discharges emitted into the environment over a year, estimated through measurements at the point of discharge or other methods applying, for example, emission factors, and including data on non-connected and scattered population, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, if available. (Description from EEA)

The indicator emissions of organic matter is measured as BOD

Data host: 

European Environment Agency

Unit of Measurement: 

BOD, 1 000 kg O2/day

Link to Data: 

http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/changes-in-organic-matter-emissio… [2]

Description to get data: 

Download the Excel file that is linked under metadata

Type of Indicator source: 

  • Intergovernmental Organisation [3]

Geographical Coverage: 

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom

Geographical Level: 

  • National [4]

Same/similar indicators appears in the following sets: 

  • EEA's environmental indicators/Environmental Pressure indicators [5]
  • Eurostat [6]

Methodological transparency: 

  • Partial methodology available [7]
Indicator relation: 
Indicator: 
Biochemical oxygen demand in rivers    [8]
Relationship explanation: 
one of the components of the indicator
Type of relation: 
Component indicator of the aggregate
Indicator: 
Oxygen consuming substances in rivers [9]
Relationship explanation: 
one of the components of the indicator
Type of relation: 
Component indicator of the aggregate
Indicator: 
Persistent organic pollutant emissions [10]
Relationship explanation: 
one of the components of the indicator
Type of relation: 
Component indicator of the aggregate

Temporal Coverage: 

2004

Frequency of Updates: 

  • irregular [11]

Indicator developer: 

European Environment Agency

Link to Methodology: 

Factsheet (WEU8) Emissions of organic matter [12]

Aggregation level of indicator: 

  • Index or Composite [13]

Data quality assesment: 

  • assessed by international institution including WTO, OECD [14]

Publishing delay: 

  • more than 3 years [15]

Link to data quality assessment: 

Factsheet (WEU8) Emissions of organic matter [12]

Contribution to the green economy: 

The pressure on the environment can be estimated by the proxies BOD, COD and TOC for the oxygen content of water. Decreasing emissions are perceived as beneficial for the environment and wellbeing and therefore also beneficial for GE.

Cost of accessing data: 

  • free of charge [16]
Potential misinterpretation: 
Agriculture is one main emitter, are decreasing emissions of organic matter indicating less agricultural activities?
Related Indicator: 
Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) [17]

Use of indicator in mandates, international agreements or legislation: 

Name of agreement or policy: 

WFD (2000/60/EC), Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWT), Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) for large industries, Water Framework Directive (WFD)

Name of body or organisation: 

European Commission

Link to body or organisation: 

EEA website on indicator [12]

Section or page to find indicator: 

http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/emissions-of-organic-matter#toc-3
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The NETGREEN project has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration under the Grant Agreement no. 603877.

Source URL: https://measuring-progress.eu/emissions-organic-matter

Links
[1] https://measuring-progress.eu/coll-del/nojs/636
[2] http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/changes-in-organic-matter-emissions-from-all-sources-in-regions-of-europe-between-1990-and-2000
[3] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/52
[4] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/33
[5] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/65
[6] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/75
[7] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/36
[8] https://measuring-progress.eu/biochemical-oxygen-demand-rivers-%C2%A0%C2%A0
[9] https://measuring-progress.eu/oxygen-consuming-substances-rivers
[10] https://measuring-progress.eu/persistent-organic-pollutant-emissions
[11] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/21
[12] http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/emissions-of-organic-matter#toc-3
[13] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/30
[14] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/39
[15] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/26
[16] https://measuring-progress.eu/taxonomy/term/9
[17] https://measuring-progress.eu/agriculture-value-added-gdp