Table 21.1 - Overview of significant transport impacts on the environment
Sources: EEA-TF, based on OECD, 1991; UNEP, 1992
Environmental media Transport activity | Air | Water | Soil/Land | Nature and wildlife/Landscapes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Road transport | combustion of petroleum products -> emissions of NOx, CO, CO2, VOCs, particulate matter -> local to global environmental impacts, health effects | runoff containing oil, salts and solvents from road surfaces -> pollution of surface and groundwater | road construction -> land lost for infrastructure and service stations -> pressure and fragmentation of land resources | extraction of road-building materials and road construction ->landscape degradation |
NOx and VOCs emissions -> tropospheric O3, and PAN | NOx and SO2 emissions -> acidification | transport of hazardous substances -> risk of accidents -> soil contamination and human casualties | infrastructure -> severance and fragmentation of habitats, possible hindrance to wildlife migration | |
use and release of fuel and additives -> emissions of lead and VOCs (eg, benzene) | roads -> modification to hydrological systems | discarded vehicles, waste oil, batteries, old tyres, old cars -> disposal problem | ||
road transport -> noise and air pollution (and human casualties) | ||||
Rail transport | electricity power generation to run electric trains -> air emissions | railways -> modification to hydrological systems | transport of hazardous substances -> risk of accidents | dereliction of obsolete facilities -> landscape degradation |
diesel trains -> emissions to air | railway infrastructure -> possible hindrance to wildlife migration | |||
steam trains (coal powered) -> emissions to air | ||||
Water transport (maritime and inland) | concentrated harbour activities -> emissions to air | discharge of ballast water from ships -> water pollution | disposal of dredged material from canal construction and dredging -> waste disposal problem | construction of shipping berths and channels -> landscape impacts |
enclosed seas and crowded traffic routes -> emissions to air | accidental and operational spills at seas (including oil) -> water pollution | terminal dereliction -> landscape impacts | ||
bunkering of fuel and loading of fuel -> emissions to air (VOCs) | sewage and waste from ships -> water pollution | canalisation of rivers -> landscape impacts | ||
antifouling paints -> water pollution | ||||
transport of hazardous substances -> risk of potential accidents | ||||
Air transport | aircraft -> emissions of NOx and CO2 (high emissions especially during take-off, taxiing and landing) -> ground level smog and acid rain | runoff from airports containing oil and anti-freeze -> water pollution | construction of airports -> pressure on land resources | extraction of airport building materials -> landscape degradation |
contributions to stratospheric ozone depletion and global warming at higher levels; contrails | airport construction -> modification of hydrological systems | airport construction -> landscape changes | ||
associated road traffic at airports -> increased emissions | airport construction -> disruption of ecological areas | |||
Pipelines | -> emissions to air (CH4) -> global warming | leaks of oil -> potential water pollution |   | possible barrier to wildlife migration if above ground |