Development and demonstration of a method to monitor the effects of measures to reduce VOC emissions in the EU. LIFE 95/NL/A11/NL/365/ZHL [1996-1998] (Final Report )

In 1996, TNO was granted by the European Commission to carry out in the framework of the LIFE programme a project entitled "Development and dem-onstration of a method to monitor the effects of measures to reduce VOC emis-sions in the EU". An additional grant was supplied by the Dutch Ministry for Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment. Two other organisations also contributed to the project: Shell Research Ltd., the Netherlands and the Envi-ronmental Protection Agency of Rijnmond (DCMR). background Ambient air concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) may cause health effects either directly by toxic compounds such as benzene and/or indi-rectly by formation of ground-level ozone. Next to traffic, industrial activities (i.e. chemical base, storage tanks and refineries) are important sources of VOC emissions. In order to implement cost-effective emission-reduction measures and to monitor the impact of these measures, information is required on stack and diffuse emissions of industrial areas