List of Priority Substances
Norway is aiming to reduce emissions of substances that pose a serious threat to health or the environment continuously, with a view to eliminating them completely by 2020. The priority list includes more than 30 named substances and groups of substances. The first version of the priority list was published in 1997, in a white paper on an environmental policy for sustainable development.
Criteria for priority substances
A set of criteria has been drawn up for identifying priority substances. These include substances that are persistent and bioaccumulative, that have serious long-term health effects, or that show high ecotoxicity.
Steps to reduce releases
Releases of many priority substances have been substantially reduced since 1995. Norway has taken action at national level to reduce or eliminate releases of nearly all priority substances. There are also international agreements to phase out or restrict the use of many of these chemicals.
Nevertheless, some priority substances are still in use for certain purposes, and not all sources of pollution have been phased out. In addition, pollutants and waste released in the past can still create problems today. The environmental authorities are therefore continuing efforts to reduce releases of these substances even further.
Change in emissions 1995-2015 | Norwegian legislation and international agreements | |
Arsenic |
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34% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2002
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Benzotriazole UV-stabilizers(UV-320, UV-327, UV-328 and UV-350) |
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015
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Listed on the priority list 2017
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Bisphenol A
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2007
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Brominated flame retardants
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997 (penta-, octa- and deka-BDE, HBCD and TBBPA)
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Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) |
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50% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2002
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Certain surfactants (DTDMAC, DSDMAC, DHTDMAC)
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96% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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1,2-Dichloroethane (EDC)
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92% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Dioxins and furans
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75% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list in 1997
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Cadmium
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77% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Chlorinated alkyl benzenes (CABs)
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Almost 100% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Chromium
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46% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Dodecylphenol
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Increase in emissions
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Listed on the priority list 2007 | |
Hexachlorobenzene
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90% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Lead
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90% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins
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29% reduction in emissions 1995-2015
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Listed on the priority list 2002
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Mercury
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74% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Musk xylenes
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Almost 100% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates |
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90% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Octylphenol and its ethoxylates (OP, OPE)
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90% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
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Emissions relatively stable in recent years |
Listed on the priority list in 1997
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Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
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More than 99% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
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More than 90% reduction in emissions 1980-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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PFCA (C9-C14)
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2014
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PFHxS and PFHxS-related substances
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015
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Listed on the priority list 2017
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PFOA
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015
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Listed on the priority list 2007 • Prohibited in consumer products: Product Regulations. Section 2-32 |
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PFOS and PFOS-related substances |
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0 tonnes emissions of PFOS in 2015. Emissions from contaminated soil and sediments are not included.
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Listed on the priority list 2002
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Short-chain chlorinated paraffins |
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67% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Siloxane-D4
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2012
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Siloxane-D5
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2006
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Siloxane-D6
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2018
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Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP)
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2012
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Tetrachloroethene (PER)
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99% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Organic tin compounds (TBT, TPT, DBT and DOT)
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TBT and TPT: 100% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 DBT and DOT: Emission levels unknown |
TBT and TPT: Listed on the priority list 1997
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Trichlorobenzene (TCB)
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81% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Trichloroethene (TRI)
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Almost 100% reduction in emissions 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 1997
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Triclosan
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2008
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2,4,6 Tri-tert-buthylphenol
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Emission levels unknown 1995-2015 |
Listed on the priority list 2007
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