PRTR systems cover a wide range of pollutants that are discharged into the air, water or soil, as well as those that are transported off-site through waste or wastewater. Typically, they include the most important and hazardous substances that can have harmful effects on human health and the environment.
The European EPRTR register records 91 pollutants, including:
At the global level, the OECD has developed a harmonized list of pollutants to ensure comparability of PRTR data between countries. This list contains the substances most commonly covered by PRTR systems around the world and serves as the basis for the formation of national registries.
In summary, the PRTR includes pollutants that have a significant impact on health, ecosystems and environmental quality, and their selection is based on toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation and risk to humans and nature.
