Emissions to air on Dutch territory; road traffic; 1980-2018
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
This table contains figures on the actual emissions into the atmosphere in the Netherlands by road traffic, including emissions by foreign vehicles. It also presents the average emissions per vehicle-kilometre, the so-called fleet emission factors, are given, expressed in grams per vehicle kilometre. It covers emissions from the combustion of motor fuels and emissions caused by evaporation of fuel from the vehicle's fuel system.
The emissions are calculated by multiplying data on activities, for instance vehicle kilometres and fuel consumption, by emission factors.
Data available from: 1980-2018.
Status of the figures:
The 2018 data is provisional; all other data are final.
Changes as of 24 February 2023:
This table is discontinued.
When will new figures be published?
Not applicable. This table is succeeded by Emissions to air on Dutch territory; road traffic. See paragraph 3.
Description topics
- Emissions
- See general explanation with this publication.
- CO emission
- Carbon monoxide.
CO is caused by incomplete combustion of fuels. It is a toxic gas (detrimental to health).- Motorways
- VOC emission, total
- Volatile organic compounds, including methane (combustion + evaporation).
Caused by combustion of fuels and evaporation of petrol from the vehicle fuel system. In this table emissions of cooling agents from air conditioners and emissions from car products like screen washer liquid are excluded. Volatile organic compounds are smog generating and sometimes carcinogenic.- Motorways
- VOC emission by combustion
- Volatile organic compounds, combustion emission.
Caused by incomplete combustion of fuels. Smog generating and sometimes carcinogenic.- Motorways
- NOx emission
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO and NO2, calculated as NO2).
Nitrogen oxides are formed in the engine by the combustion of nitrogen from ambient air. Nitrogen oxides cause acidification and play a role in smog generation. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is detrimental to health.- Motorways
- PM10 emission by combustion
- Particulate matter (PM10 = particulates with diameter smaller than 10 micrometres).
The major part of the PM10 emissions by road traffic is caused by motor fuel combustion. Furthermore particulates originate from various wear processes like the wear of tyres, brake linings and road surface. In this table wear emissions are excluded. The PM10 emission inclusive of emission due to wear are given in the Statline table 'Emissions to the atmosphere; mobile sources'. Detrimental to health, penetrates deeply into the lungs.- Motorways
- SO2 emission
- Sulphur dioxide (SO2 and SO3, calculated as SO2).
SO2 is formed by the combustion of sulphur in fuels. Causes acidification.- Motorways
- CO2 emission
- 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).- Motorways
- N2O emission
- Laughing gas/dinitrogen oxide.
Dinitrogen oxide from mobile sources is mainly formed during the warming up phase of catalytic converters, due to incomplete conversion of nitrogen oxides (NOx) into nitrogen (N2). N2O is a greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).- Motorways
- CH4 emission
- Methane (= natural gas).
Methane is one of the components of VOC. In the case of mobile sources it concerns only a minor part of the total VOC emission. Methane is a Greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).- Motorways
- Fleet emission factors
- The average emission per vehicle kilometre, per vehicle category and
road type, weighted for the shares of the various vehicle classes
(= years of construction and weight classes) in the traffic
performance of the concerning vehicle category.- CO fleet emission factors
- Carbon monoxide per vehicle kilometre.
CO is caused by incomplete combustion of fuels. It is a toxic gas (detrimental to health).- Motorways
- VOC fleet emission factors
- Volatile organic compounds, emission by combustion per
vehicle kilometre.
Caused by incomplete combustion of fuels. Smog generating and sometimes carcinogenic.- Motorways
- NOx fleet emission factors
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO and NO2, calculated as NO2) per
vehicle kilometre.
Nitrogen oxides are formed in the engine by the combustion of nitrogen from ambient air. Nitrogen oxides cause acidification and play a role in smog generation. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is detrimental to health.- Motorways
- PM10 fleet emission factors
- Particulate matter emission by combustion per vehicle kilometre (PM10 = particulates with diameter smaller than 10 micrometers). Detrimental to health, penetrates deeply into the lungs.
- Motorways
- SO2 fleet emission factors
- Sulphur dioxide per vehicle kilometre (SO2 and SO3, calculated as SO2).
SO2 is formed by the combustion of Sulphur in fuels. Causes acidification.- Motorways
- CO2 fleet emission factors
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) per vehicle kilometre.
CO2 is formed by the combustion of Carbon in fuels. Greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).- Motorways
- N2O fleet emission factors
- Laughing gas/dinitrogen oxide per vehicle kilometre.
Dinitrogen oxide is mainly formed during the warming up phase of catalytic converters, due to incomplete conversion of nitrogen oxides (NOx) into nitrogen (N2). N2O is a greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).- Motorways
- CH4 fleet emission factors
- Methane (= natural gas) per vehicle kilometre.
Methane is one of the components of VOC. In the case of mobile sources it concerns only a minor part of the total VOC emission. Methane is a Greenhouse gas (causes the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise gradually).- Motorways