Achtergronden bij: Milieubalans 95

Volgens de wet Milieubeheer is de Milieubalans bedoeld om jaarlijks de actuele ontwikkeling van de milieukwaliteit te beschrijven in relatie tot het gevoerde milieubeleid en de ontwikkeling van de verschillende maatschappelijke activiteiten. Met deze rapportage wordt een eventuele bijsturing van het milieubeleid in de richting van de geformuleerde doelstellingen mogelijk gemaakt. Als onderdeel van de Milieubalans brengt het RIVM deze achtergronddocumentatie uit. Hierin wordt de wetenschappelijke onderbouwing gegeven van de conclusies uit de Milieubalans 95.<br

Environmental Balance 95. Assessing the Dutch Environment

Abstract niet beschikbaarThe growth of industrial production, consumption, transport and energy use over the past years has not propagated to a similar increase of substances affecting the environment. The 'disconnection' between the growth of the Gross National Product and the resulting development of environmental pressure has increasingly become visible. Implementing environmental measures has to a large extent contributed to this 'disconnection'. This is the most important conclusion of this first Environmental Balance. Policy targets over 1994/95 have been met with respect to (a) the reduction of atmospheric emissions of sulphur dioxide and ammonia, (b) the decrease of discharges of phosphates, cadmium and chromium to water, and (c) the treatment of priority waste compounds. Targets with respect to atmospheric emissions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide, and discharges to water of nitrogen compounds and other heavy metals have not yet been satisfied. The generally positive development of environmental pressure does not imply that the environmental quality improves to the same extent. In some cases, Dutch emission reductions of substances do not immediately bring about an improvement of environmental quality due to low removal rates of particular substances and unfavourable developments abroad. The Environmental Balance points out that the air and surface water quality has improved, despite environmental quality guidelines still being exceeded in some cases. Air pollution and noise continue to exercise a negative impact on health. Concentrations of greenhouse gases and substances which damage the ozone layer have increased over the past years, and nitrogen concentrations have remained high both in groundwater and in surface waters. Acid deposition decreased. The populations of almost all vulnerable species in nature have decreased due to a variety of causes including acidification, eutrophication, desiccation and reductions of habitat areas, however, the improved quality of air and water has brought about positive impacts in a number of cases.RIV

Backdrop on the 1995 Environmental Balance

Volgens de wet Milieubeheer is de Milieubalans bedoeld om jaarlijks de actuele ontwikkeling van de milieukwaliteit te beschrijven in relatie tot het gevoerde milieubeleid en de ontwikkeling van de verschillende maatschappelijke activiteiten. Met deze rapportage wordt een eventuele bijsturing van het milieubeleid in de richting van de geformuleerde doelstellingen mogelijk gemaakt. Als onderdeel van de Milieubalans brengt het RIVM deze achtergronddocumentatie uit. Hierin wordt de wetenschappelijke onderbouwing gegeven van de conclusies uit de Milieubalans 95.The Environmental Balance is meant to report annually, in line with the Act on RIVM, on the current developments in environmental quality as related to policy implemented and the different activities in development in society. Such a document will make it possible to steer environmental policy, if necessary, back on to the course intended in the policy objectives. This background report, functioning as part of the Environmental Balance, is meant then to reflect the scientific underpinning of the conclusions drawn in the 1995 Environmental Balance.DG

Duurzaam gebruik van grondwater. Problemen en bedreigingen in de Europese Gemeenschap

Abstract niet beschikbaarIn all the EC countries current practices lead to non-sustainable use of groundwater systems. The main problem areas are found in the agricultural and industrial core regions of the EC. The scale and complexity of the problems vary per region. The most serious problems are: - pollution from pesticides and nitrate - pollution from industrial and urban areas - overexploitation and intensified drainage leading to lowering of groundwater levels and salt-water intrusion - point pollution from illegal or improper dumping of municipal, industrial mining and hazardous waste. Nitrate leaching at a level of 50 mg/l (EC drinking-water standard) and more occurs in about 25% of the agricultural soils in the EC, particularly in the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, the southern part of the UK, the Po area and western France. In another 45% the computed levels are between 25% and 50 mg/l, which is above the EC target value of 25 mg/l. Computations indicate that concentrations in groundwater in 65% of the agricultural soils the EC drinking-water standard for the sum of pesticides (0.5 mug/l) will be exceeded. In approximately 25% of the area this standard will be exceeded by more than 10 times. If no remedial action or further precautions with respect to waste disposal are taken, the potential polluted area of the groundwater systems will be in the order of 20,000- 60,000 km2 within a period of 50 years, in other words 2 - 4% of the land surface of the Community. Overexploitation leads to a depletion of the resource, excessive decline of groundwater levels, intrusion of sea water and upconing of mineral-rich groundwater. But also, due to intensified land drainage and regulation of surface water levels, a systematic lowering of the groundwater levels is introduced. Both flora and fauna are being threatened and sensitive rare species are disappearing.DGM/DWB-W mede namens RWS en EG/DGI

Milieudiagnose 1991. I. Integrale rapportage. Lucht-, Bodem- en Grondwaterkwaliteit. &quot;Pilot-studie&quot;

One of the RIVM spearheads is the description and analysis of present environmental quality. Part II of the analysis for 1991 (report number 222101022) presents the atmospheric concentrations and deposition values of a large number of air pollutants in the Netherlands whether in part III (report number 724801003) the quality of the soil and groundwater is presented using data collected with the assistance of the soil and groundwater monitoring networks. This report is the result of a pilot study integrating and harmonizing the results of the monitoring networks on air, soil and groundwater. A thematic approach has been chosen for the presentation. Different cross sections have been selected for the various compounds relevant to the themes: acidification, application of manure and the distribution of heavy metals, arsenic, pesticides and PAHs.<br

State of the environment 1991. Part I. Integration. Quality of the Air, Soil and Groundwater &quot;pilot&quot; study

One of the RIVM spearheads is the description and analysis of present environmental quality. Part II of the analysis for 1991 (report number 222101022) presents the atmospheric concentrations and deposition values of a large number of air pollutants in the Netherlands whether in part III (report number 724801003) the quality of the soil and groundwater is presented using data collected with the assistance of the soil and groundwater monitoring networks. This report is the result of a pilot study integrating and harmonizing the results of the monitoring networks on air, soil and groundwater. A thematic approach has been chosen for the presentation. Different cross sections have been selected for the various compounds relevant to the themes: acidification, application of manure and the distribution of heavy metals, arsenic, pesticides and PAHs.RIV

State of the environment 1991. Part III. Quality of the soil and groundwater

RIVM has a national integrated environmental monitoring network at its disposal for carrying out the monitoring. Besides national networks for radioactivity and the quality of air, rainwater and drinking water, this monitoring network consists of national networks for the soil and groundwater quality. This report describes the quality of the soil and groundwater using data collected with the assistance of the soil and groundwater monitoring networks, and, as well, the results of various theme-oriented monitoring programmes. Groundwater quality is described using data from 1991. Also older data is used for soil quality. The monitoring data apply primarily to the upper 10 cm of soil, the upper 100 cm of groundwater and the overall groundwater levels of 10 and 25 m above ground level.DG

Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao

Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao consist of five islands that make up the Leeward Islands of the Dutch Antilles off of the northern coast of South America, often referred to as the ABCs. Because of location, the islands share similar characteristics of climate, geology, geomorphology, and history, though each bears a variation of these characteristics. These largely limestone islands are part of the southern Caribbean dry zone. Historically, they were important centers of livestock grazing, aloe vera production, and salt export. All three islands in the twentieth century have been impacted by the growth of oil export in Venezuela. Curaçao, once the tourism leaders among the Dutch Caribbean Islands, is trying to catch up with Aruba in stopover tourists, while Bonaire has smaller but strong “active” tourism for its size. While their climate in the past was considered less than desirable for large-area agricultural pursuits, presently their dry, warm weather largely outside the hurricane belt is an attractive asset to the millions of tourists who visit them annually