More than 150 industrial plants, power stations, piggeries and landfill sites in Ireland appear on the first EU-wide polluters list, compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The European Pollutant Emissions Register (EPER) provides detailed information on pollution of air and water caused by 9,256 major industrial facilities throughout the EU and Norway - mostly for 2001.
It covers 50 pollutants including ammonia, arsenic, chloroform, methane, nitrogen dioxide, phosphorus, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, fine particle soot and heavy metals as well as carbon dioxide.
Large and medium-sized industrial installations are covered, including major pig and poultry farms, based on data supplied by EU member-states and by Norway, which volunteered to participate in the register.
It shows that 3,029 large pig and poultry farms are responsible for 78 per cent of ammonia emissions into the air while the chemical industry is responsible for 53 per cent of mercury emissions to water.
A sizeable proportion of the 154 Irish entries on the register are intensive pig or poultry farmers, mainly in Co Cavan and Co Tipperary. Numerous landfill sites are also on the list because of their methane emissions.
The EU Environment Commissioner, Ms Margot Wallström, hailed the initiative, saying information was the key to public involvement in environmental protection because it meant that people could "put pressure on politicians".
Referring to the register's exposure of "industrial pollution in your neighbourhood", she said: "People have the right to know how polluted their environment really is because it directly affects their health and their quality of life." The EEA, which covers all 15 EU member-states as well as the 10 accession countries and others such as Iceland and Norway, said the register would provide a solid data base for policy-makers as well as the public.
Member-states are required to update the data every three years, so the next reporting exercise will take place in 2006. The intention is to make it fully comprehensive, including information on how industry manages waste.
Prof Jacqueline McGlade, the EEA's executive director, said it was planning to build on the register by creating an extensive Internet portal to regional and selected local environmental information throughout Europe by 2008.
The EPER website address is www.eper.cec.eu.int
