Emissions to air on Dutch territory; road traffic

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Emissions to air on Dutch territory; road traffic
Means of transport Periods Emissions Carbon dioxide (CO2) (million kg) Emissions Dinitrogen oxide (N2O) (million kg) Emissions Methane (CH4) (million kg) Emissions Carbon monoxide (CO) (million kg) Emissions NMVOC (million kg) Emissions Nitrogen oxides (NOx) (million kg) Emissions Soot (million kg) Emissions PM10 Total (Particulate matter) (million kg) Emissions PM10 Combustion (Particulate matter) (million kg) Emissions PM10 Wear (Particulate matter) (million kg) Emissions PM2.5 Total (Particulate matter) (million kg) Emissions PM2.5 Combustion (Particulate matter) (million kg) Emissions PM2.5 Wear (Particulate matter) (million kg) Emissions Ammonia (NH3) (million kg) Emissions Sulphur dioxide (SO2) (million kg) Fleet emission factor Carbon dioxide (CO2) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor Dinitrogen oxide (N2O) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor Methane (CH4) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor Carbon monoxide (CO) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor NMVOC (grams/km) Fleet emission factor Nitrogen oxides (NOx) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor Soot (grams/km) Fleet emission factor PM10 Total (Particulate matter) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor PM10 Combustion (Particulate matter) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor PM10 Wear (Particulate matter) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor PM2.5 Total (Particulate matter) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor PM2.5 Combustion (Particulate matter) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor PM2.5 Wear (Particulate matter) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor Ammonia (NH3) (grams/km) Fleet emission factor Sulphur dioxide (SO2) (grams/km)
Total motor vehicles 2017* 28,384 1.18 2.34 228.86 23.75 78.76 0.76 4.03 1.30 2.72 1.76 1.30 0.45 3.64 0.19 207 0.009 0.017 1.67 0.17 0.57 0.006 0.029 0.009 0.020 0.013 0.009 0.003 0.026 0.001
Total motor vehicles 2018* 28,657 1.20 2.35 229.83 23.59 78.18 0.74 4.02 1.26 2.76 1.72 1.26 0.46 3.70 0.19 206 0.009 0.017 1.65 0.17 0.56 0.005 0.029 0.009 0.020 0.012 0.009 0.003 0.027 0.001
Total motor vehicles 2019* 28,526 1.23 2.32 213.76 23.24 72.44 0.62 3.88 1.10 2.79 1.56 1.10 0.47 3.65 0.19 204 0.009 0.017 1.53 0.17 0.52 0.004 0.028 0.008 0.020 0.011 0.008 0.003 0.026 0.001
Total motor vehicles 2020* 25,374 1.14 2.02 181.29 21.04 59.15 0.48 3.38 0.89 2.49 1.30 0.89 0.42 3.31 0.17 209 0.009 0.017 1.49 0.17 0.49 0.004 0.028 0.007 0.020 0.011 0.007 0.003 0.027 0.001
Total motor vehicles 2021* 26,222 1.19 2.04 176.19 21.39 57.45 0.44 3.46 0.84 2.63 1.28 0.84 0.44 3.49 0.17 205 0.009 0.016 1.38 0.17 0.45 0.003 0.027 0.007 0.021 0.010 0.007 0.003 0.027 0.001
Total motor vehicles 2022* 26,928 1.24 2.03 166.81 21.15 56.44 0.40 3.55 0.78 2.77 1.24 0.78 0.46 3.61 0.18 201 0.009 0.015 1.24 0.16 0.42 0.003 0.026 0.006 0.021 0.009 0.006 0.003 0.027 0.001
Passenger cars 2017* 17,341 0.71 1.62 183.27 12.02 28.27 0.23 2.24 0.46 1.77 0.76 0.46 0.29 3.16 0.11 161 0.007 0.015 1.70 0.11 0.26 0.002 0.021 0.004 0.016 0.007 0.004 0.003 0.029 0.001
Passenger cars 2018* 17,489 0.73 1.64 185.69 12.18 28.56 0.22 2.24 0.45 1.80 0.75 0.45 0.30 3.20 0.12 160 0.007 0.015 1.70 0.11 0.26 0.002 0.021 0.004 0.016 0.007 0.004 0.003 0.029 0.001
Passenger cars 2019* 17,236 0.75 1.60 172.56 11.95 26.51 0.18 2.19 0.38 1.81 0.68 0.38 0.30 3.09 0.12 158 0.007 0.015 1.58 0.11 0.24 0.002 0.020 0.003 0.017 0.006 0.003 0.003 0.028 0.001
Passenger cars 2020* 14,315 0.66 1.34 143.87 10.14 19.41 0.12 1.80 0.28 1.52 0.54 0.28 0.25 2.67 0.10 156 0.007 0.015 1.57 0.11 0.21 0.001 0.020 0.003 0.017 0.006 0.003 0.003 0.029 0.001
Passenger cars 2021* 14,888 0.70 1.37 140.98 10.61 18.99 0.11 1.90 0.27 1.63 0.54 0.27 0.27 2.76 0.10 154 0.007 0.014 1.45 0.11 0.20 0.001 0.020 0.003 0.017 0.006 0.003 0.003 0.028 0.001
Passenger cars 2022* 15,312 0.72 1.38 134.05 10.71 18.90 0.09 1.99 0.25 1.74 0.54 0.25 0.29 2.81 0.11 149 0.007 0.013 1.31 0.10 0.18 0.001 0.019 0.002 0.017 0.005 0.002 0.003 0.027 0.001
Motorcycles 2017* 268 0.00 0.09 21.13 2.17 0.86 0.01 0.05 0.04 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 108 0.002 0.037 8.53 0.87 0.35 0.003 0.022 0.015 0.006 0.016 0.015 0.001 0.002 0.002
Motorcycles 2018* 267 0.00 0.09 19.78 2.04 0.82 0.01 0.05 0.04 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 107 0.002 0.034 7.94 0.82 0.33 0.003 0.021 0.014 0.006 0.015 0.014 0.001 0.002 0.002
Motorcycles 2019* 269 0.01 0.08 18.69 1.96 0.78 0.01 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.00 106 0.002 0.032 7.36 0.77 0.31 0.003 0.020 0.013 0.006 0.014 0.013 0.001 0.002 0.002
Motorcycles 2020* 266 0.01 0.08 17.25 1.85 0.73 0.01 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.00 105 0.002 0.030 6.79 0.73 0.29 0.003 0.019 0.013 0.006 0.014 0.013 0.001 0.002 0.001
Motorcycles 2021* 263 0.01 0.07 15.85 1.73 0.67 0.01 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.00 103 0.002 0.027 6.24 0.68 0.26 0.002 0.018 0.012 0.006 0.013 0.012 0.001 0.002 0.001
Motorcycles 2022* 260 0.01 0.06 14.50 1.62 0.62 0.01 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.00 102 0.002 0.025 5.71 0.64 0.24 0.002 0.017 0.011 0.006 0.012 0.011 0.001 0.002 0.001
Total vehicles with moped licence 2017* 83 0.00 0.15 12.81 3.33 0.15 0.01 0.05 0.05 0.00 0.05 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 66 0.001 0.122 10.11 2.63 0.12 0.004 0.041 0.038 0.003 0.038 0.038 0.000 0.001 0.001
Total vehicles with moped licence 2018* 81 0.00 0.14 12.87 3.00 0.16 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 64 0.001 0.109 10.15 2.37 0.12 0.004 0.035 0.032 0.003 0.032 0.032 0.000 0.001 0.001
Total vehicles with moped licence 2019* 78 0.00 0.12 12.06 2.71 0.15 0.00 0.04 0.03 0.00 0.04 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 62 0.001 0.099 9.62 2.16 0.12 0.003 0.031 0.028 0.003 0.028 0.028 0.000 0.001 0.001
Total vehicles with moped licence 2020* 75 0.00 0.11 10.85 2.45 0.14 0.00 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 58 0.001 0.086 8.47 1.91 0.11 0.003 0.026 0.023 0.003 0.024 0.023 0.000 0.001 0.001
Total vehicles with moped licence 2021* 73 0.00 0.10 9.85 2.30 0.13 0.00 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 55 0.001 0.078 7.44 1.74 0.10 0.002 0.024 0.021 0.003 0.021 0.021 0.000 0.001 0.001
Total vehicles with moped licence 2022* 67 0.00 0.08 8.63 1.92 0.11 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 52 0.001 0.066 6.67 1.49 0.09 0.002 0.020 0.017 0.003 0.018 0.017 0.000 0.001 0.001
Light weight commercial motor vehicles 2017* 3,626 0.09 0.22 2.78 1.08 16.95 0.33 0.71 0.41 0.30 0.46 0.41 0.05 0.07 0.03 206 0.005 0.013 0.16 0.06 0.96 0.019 0.041 0.023 0.017 0.026 0.023 0.003 0.004 0.001
Light weight commercial motor vehicles 2018* 3,739 0.09 0.24 2.91 1.13 16.69 0.32 0.71 0.40 0.31 0.45 0.40 0.05 0.07 0.03 206 0.005 0.013 0.16 0.06 0.92 0.018 0.039 0.022 0.017 0.025 0.022 0.003 0.004 0.001
Light weight commercial motor vehicles 2019* 3,836 0.10 0.26 2.90 1.19 15.42 0.26 0.65 0.33 0.32 0.38 0.33 0.05 0.08 0.03 206 0.005 0.014 0.16 0.06 0.83 0.014 0.035 0.018 0.017 0.021 0.018 0.003 0.004 0.001
Light weight commercial motor vehicles 2020* 3,727 0.10 0.25 2.89 1.14 12.72 0.20 0.58 0.26 0.32 0.31 0.26 0.05 0.10 0.03 207 0.005 0.014 0.16 0.06 0.70 0.011 0.032 0.014 0.018 0.017 0.014 0.003 0.006 0.001
Light weight commercial motor vehicles 2021* 3,890 0.11 0.25 3.42 1.16 12.07 0.18 0.57 0.23 0.34 0.29 0.23 0.06 0.15 0.03 207 0.006 0.013 0.18 0.06 0.64 0.010 0.030 0.012 0.018 0.015 0.012 0.003 0.008 0.001
Light weight commercial motor vehicles 2022* 3,991 0.12 0.24 3.83 1.11 11.14 0.15 0.55 0.20 0.35 0.26 0.20 0.06 0.18 0.03 207 0.006 0.012 0.20 0.06 0.58 0.008 0.029 0.010 0.018 0.013 0.010 0.003 0.009 0.001
Heavy weight commercial motor vehicles 2017* 6,542 0.35 0.18 8.41 4.98 30.86 0.17 0.90 0.31 0.58 0.41 0.31 0.10 0.40 0.04 866 0.047 0.023 1.11 0.66 4.08 0.022 0.119 0.042 0.077 0.055 0.042 0.013 0.052 0.005
Heavy weight commercial motor vehicles 2018* 6,559 0.36 0.18 8.13 5.07 30.32 0.17 0.89 0.31 0.58 0.41 0.31 0.10 0.42 0.04 867 0.047 0.023 1.07 0.67 4.01 0.022 0.118 0.041 0.077 0.054 0.041 0.013 0.055 0.005
Heavy weight commercial motor vehicles 2019* 6,614 0.36 0.18 7.13 5.26 28.18 0.15 0.88 0.29 0.59 0.39 0.29 0.10 0.47 0.04 867 0.047 0.024 0.93 0.69 3.69 0.020 0.116 0.039 0.077 0.052 0.039 0.013 0.062 0.005
Heavy weight commercial motor vehicles 2020* 6,608 0.36 0.19 6.10 5.33 25.20 0.14 0.85 0.27 0.59 0.37 0.27 0.10 0.53 0.04 870 0.048 0.025 0.80 0.70 3.32 0.018 0.112 0.035 0.078 0.048 0.035 0.013 0.069 0.005
Heavy weight commercial motor vehicles 2021* 6,764 0.37 0.19 5.78 5.47 24.79 0.14 0.87 0.26 0.60 0.37 0.26 0.10 0.57 0.04 872 0.048 0.025 0.75 0.71 3.20 0.018 0.112 0.034 0.078 0.047 0.034 0.013 0.073 0.005
Heavy weight commercial motor vehicles 2022* 6,960 0.38 0.20 5.51 5.66 24.89 0.14 0.88 0.27 0.62 0.37 0.27 0.10 0.61 0.04 875 0.048 0.025 0.69 0.71 3.13 0.017 0.111 0.033 0.078 0.047 0.033 0.013 0.077 0.005
Buses 2017* 523 0.02 0.07 0.46 0.17 1.67 0.02 0.08 0.03 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.00 842 0.032 0.113 0.73 0.27 2.68 0.029 0.122 0.046 0.076 0.058 0.046 0.012 0.009 0.005
Buses 2018* 522 0.02 0.07 0.45 0.17 1.64 0.02 0.08 0.03 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.00 825 0.032 0.108 0.71 0.27 2.59 0.028 0.120 0.044 0.076 0.057 0.044 0.012 0.009 0.005
Buses 2019* 493 0.02 0.07 0.42 0.16 1.41 0.01 0.07 0.02 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.00 802 0.031 0.111 0.69 0.27 2.29 0.024 0.115 0.039 0.076 0.052 0.039 0.012 0.008 0.005
Buses 2020* 383 0.01 0.06 0.33 0.13 0.96 0.01 0.05 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.00 775 0.030 0.117 0.67 0.26 1.93 0.019 0.109 0.032 0.077 0.045 0.032 0.013 0.007 0.005
Buses 2021* 344 0.01 0.06 0.31 0.12 0.81 0.01 0.05 0.01 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 698 0.027 0.119 0.62 0.25 1.63 0.015 0.104 0.028 0.077 0.040 0.028 0.012 0.006 0.005
Buses 2022* 339 0.01 0.06 0.30 0.13 0.77 0.01 0.05 0.01 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 667 0.027 0.114 0.58 0.25 1.52 0.014 0.102 0.026 0.077 0.038 0.026 0.012 0.005 0.005
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains figures on the actual air emissions in the Netherlands, generated by road traffic and including emissions by foreign vehicles. In addition, the derived average emissions per vehicle kilometre are given. These are expressed in grams of emissions per driven kilometre and are also called fleet emission factors.
The figures in this table cover exhaust emissions from the combustion of (motor) fuels, emissions from gasoline evaporation and emissions released from tire, road surface and brake wear.
Compared to the StatLine tables “Emissions to air on Dutch territory; mobile sources on emissions to air”, this table excludes NMVOC emissions from air conditioning and CO2 emissions from the use of lubricants.

In order to obtain a coherent and consistent time series, the complete time series is (re)calculated every year if necessary, so that the latest insights, in particular with regard to emission factors, can be included in the calculations.

Data available from: the actual emissions are available from 1990, and the fleet emission factors from 2004.

Status of the figures: Figures from 1990 onwards have a provisional status.

Changes as of 8 February 2024:
Figures from 1990 onwards have been adjusted.

When will new figures be published?
New figures for 2023 are expected in October 2024.

Description topics

Emissions
Actual emissions to air from mobile sources on or above Dutch territory

Mobile source emissions are caused by the combustion of motor fuels, the evaporation of fuel and load residues (VOC), and PM10 and PM2.5 emissions from wear of tyres, brake linings and road surfaces. The emissions are calculated by multiplying data on activity, for instance vehicle kilometres, by emission factors.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
CO2 is formed by the combustion of carbon in fuels. Greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).
Dinitrogen oxide (N2O)
Dinitrogen oxide (=laughing gas).
N2O is formed during various chemical conversion processes, particularly in agriculture through denitrification processes in manure and fertilisers, and also in the production of fertilisers, as well as in the production of nitric acid and in automotive catalysts.
It is a greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).

N2O arises from mobile sources mainly during the warming up phase of catalytic converters, as a result of incomplete conversion of nitrogen oxides (NOx) into nitrogen (N2).
Methane (CH4)
Methane (= natural gas).
Among other causes CH4 is formed by incomplete combustion of fuels, leakage from the natural gas network, and by fermentation. Greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).
Carbon monoxide (CO)
CO is caused mainly by incomplete combustion of fuels.
It is a toxic gas (detrimental to health); fatal in high concentrations.
NMVOC
Non-methane volatile organic compounds.
Among others caused by incomplete combustion of fuels and evaporation of fuels, cooling agents, inland vessel load residues, and other chemical substances. VOC emissions are also formed during various industrial processes. Smog generating and sometimes carcinogenic.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Nitrogen oxides are formed in the engine by burning nitrogen from the air. They cause acidification and play a role in smog formation.
Soot
Soot, or Elemental Carbon, consists of carbon with compounds such as metals and is created during incomplete combustion of, for example, diesel fuel. Petrol cars also create soot in the air. Soot can be used as an indicator in addition to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5).
PM10 Total (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 10 micrometres).
PM10 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs.

Most of the particulate emissions from road traffic arise from the combustion of motor fuel. In addition, particulate matter is released during the wear of tyres, road surfaces and brake linings.
PM10 (particulate matter) is the total of PM10 Combustion (particulate matter) and PM10 Wear (particulate matter).
PM10 Combustion (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 10 micrometres).
PM10 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs. PM10 Combustion concerns only the PM10 released during combustion of motor fuel.
PM10 Wear (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 10 micrometres).
PM10 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs. PM10 Wear concerns only the PM10 released through wear from road surfaces, tyres and brakes.
PM2.5 Total (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres).
PM2.5 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs.
Most of the particulate emissions from road traffic arise from the combustion of motor fuel. In addition, particulate matter is released during the wear of tyres, road surfaces and brake linings.

PM2.5 refers to emissions from combustion plus emissions from wear from road surfaces, tyres and brakes.
PM2.5 Combustion (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres).
PM2.5 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs. PM2.5 Combustion concerns only the PM2.5 released during combustion of motor fuel.
PM2.5 Wear (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres).
PM2.5 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs. PM2.5 Wear concerns only the PM2.5 released through wear from road surfaces, tyres and brakes.
Ammonia (NH3)
NH3 is formed in particular during natural processes and also, to a lesser degree, during the combustion of fuels and during industrial processes. The most important source is manure. NH3 causes acidification.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
SO2 is formed by the combustion of sulphur present in fuels. It causes acidification of the environment.
Fleet emission factor
The average emissions per vehicle kilometre, per vehicle category. This is weighted by shares of the various vehicle classes (= year of manufacture and weight classes) in the traffic performance of the vehicle category in question.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
CO2 is formed by the combustion of carbon in fuels. Greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).
Dinitrogen oxide (N2O)
Dinitrogen oxide (=laughing gas).
N2O is formed during various chemical conversion processes, particularly in agriculture through denitrification processes in manure and fertilisers, and also in the production of fertilisers, as well as in the production of nitric acid and in automotive catalysts.
It is a greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).

N2O arises from mobile sources mainly during the warming up phase of catalytic converters, as a result of incomplete conversion of nitrogen oxides (NOx) into nitrogen (N2).
Methane (CH4)
Methane (= natural gas).
Among other causes CH4 is formed by incomplete combustion of fuels, leakage from the natural gas network, and by fermentation. Greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).
Carbon monoxide (CO)
CO is caused mainly by incomplete combustion of fuels.
It is a toxic gas (detrimental to health); fatal in high concentrations.
NMVOC
Non-methane volatile organic compounds.
Among others caused by incomplete combustion of fuels and evaporation of fuels, cooling agents, inland vessel load residues, and other chemical substances. VOC emissions are also formed during various industrial processes. Smog generating and sometimes carcinogenic.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Nitrogen oxides are formed in the engine by burning nitrogen from the air. They cause acidification and play a role in smog formation.
Soot
Soot, or Elemental Carbon, consists of carbon with compounds such as metals and is created during incomplete combustion of, for example, diesel fuel. Petrol cars also create soot in the air. Soot can be used as an indicator in addition to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5).
PM10 Total (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 10 micrometres).
PM10 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs.

Most of the particulate emissions from road traffic arise from the combustion of motor fuel. In addition, particulate matter is released during the wear of tyres, road surfaces and brake linings.
PM10 (particulate matter) is the total of PM10 Combustion (particulate matter) and PM10 Wear (particulate matter).
PM10 Combustion (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 10 micrometres).
PM10 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs. PM10 Combustion concerns only the PM10 released during combustion of motor fuel.
PM10 Wear (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 10 micrometres).
PM10 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs. PM10 Wear concerns only the PM10 released through wear from road surfaces, tyres and brakes.
PM2.5 Total (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres).
PM2.5 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs.
Most of the particulate emissions from road traffic arise from the combustion of motor fuel. In addition, particulate matter is released during the wear of tyres, road surfaces and brake linings.

PM2.5 refers to emissions from combustion plus emissions from wear from road surfaces, tyres and brakes.
PM2.5 Combustion (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres).
PM2.5 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs. PM2.5 Combustion concerns only the PM2.5 released during combustion of motor fuel.
PM2.5 Wear (Particulate matter)
Particulate matter (particulates with diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres).
PM2.5 is formed, among others, during the combustion of diesel fuel (“diesel smoke”), tyre and brake wear, all kinds of industrial processes and storage and transhipment. Particulate matter is detrimental to health. It penetrates deeply into the lungs. PM2.5 Wear concerns only the PM2.5 released through wear from road surfaces, tyres and brakes.
Ammonia (NH3)
NH3 is formed in particular during natural processes and also, to a lesser degree, during the combustion of fuels and during industrial processes. The most important source is manure. NH3 causes acidification.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
SO2 is formed by the combustion of sulphur present in fuels. It causes acidification of the environment.