Data suggests industrial pollution is rising

Industrial pollution could well have worsened overall in Europe between 2001 and 2004, according to the second edition of the EU polluting emissions register (Eper) on Thursday.  If confirmed, the finding could prove embarrassing to EU business.

Eper was launched in 2004 based on data on emissions to air and water (both direct and via wastewater treatment plants) from some 9,000 industrial installations in the EU-15 countries in 2001 (EED 24/02/04).  Eper II reports on 2004 emissions from the same installations, plus about another 3,000 facilities in the EU’s ten new members.