Within the framework of an air quality study of the French alpine valleys (POVA program), an atmospheric emission inventory concerning major pollutants: CO, NOx, SO(2), CH(4), particles (PT) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) was carried out. This inventory has a spatial resolution of 1 km(2) and was established for the reference year 2003. The coexistence of economic activities and the Vanoise national park makes the Maurienne valley a sensitive site, particularly representative of the problems of sustainable development in alpine areas, where air pollution is one of the most important aspects. The area, which covers 4588 km(2), is an alpine valley that is sensitive to air pollution due to the emission sources (traffic, industries, private heating, etc.), its morphology (a narrow valley surrounded by high ranges), and local meteorology (temperature inversions and slope winds). As expected, the result which includes both biogenic and anthropogenic sources shows serious emissions of pollutants that are mainly due to the presence of highways and industries around. Two emission inventories were drawn up: one with emission factors determined by CORINAIR (from the European Environment Agency) and the other with emission factors determined by BUWAL-OFEFP (from Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape). The inventories were then compared thanks to concentrations calculated from a numerical model. Computations were run for an intensive field observation period from 25 June to 2 July 2003.