Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology 14, No 2, 422–429 (2013) Air pollution
Particulate Matter Air Pollution in Urban Areas in Bulgaria M. Donchevaa*, G. Bonevab University of Forestry,10 Kliment Ochridski Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria E-mail:
[email protected] b Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria a
Abstract. In Europe, as well as in Bulgaria, there have been successful reductions in the levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in ambient air, as well as marked reductions in NOx. Also, lead concentrations have declined considerably with the introduction of unleaded petrol. However, exposure to particulate matter (PM) and ozone (O3) remains of major environment-related health concerns, linked to a loss of life expectancy, acute and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular effects, impaired lung development in children, and reduced birth weight. The current paper provides analysis and assessment of air pollution with particulate matter in 34 Bulgarian towns. Annual and seasonal concentrations of particulate matter in the period 2006 to 2010 were calculated. Data on the maximum 24-hour concentrations and the occurrence of exceedances over the limit values were presented as well. Keywords: air pollution, particulate matter.
AIMS AND BACKGROUND Air pollution is a very actual problem in densely populated urban and industrial regions. The most common pollutants are: carbon oxide, carbohydrates, nitrogen and sulphur oxides, and ozone1. Particulate matter is included in this group – PM10 (particles with a size up to 10 µm) and PM2.5 (particles with a size less than 2.5 µm). These particles have various chemical and physical characteristics. Particulate matter depending on the source has different size, form and is deposited from various materials. The most common are fuel particles (coal dust), crystals of salt, mineral materials (soil, clay), other crystals, as well as seed, spores, pollen, etc. The research shows a relationship between the high concentrations of PM10 and the heavy respiratory diseases. A small part of the cardiovascular diseases could also be attributed to dust pollution (ischemic disease of the heart, arterial hypertonia). Pollution with PM10 could cause allergies, endocrine and cancer diseases as well as various skin problems2–7. As a result of the many proofs of the negative influence of the particulate matter limit values for maximum admissible concentrations were introduced. In *
For correspondence.
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this context Directive 1999/30/EO, later replaced by Directive 2008/50/EO was adopted where norms and target terms for the decrease of the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 were determined8,9. In the legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria the admissible norms for PM10 and PM2.5 are included in Regulation No 9/1999 later replaced by Regulation No 12/2010 where the mean 24-hour limit value is 50 µg/m3 whereas it should not exceed more than 35 times in the frame of one calendar year. The mean annual limit value of this fraction is 40 µg/m3 (Ref. 10). According to the data of the European Environmental Agency from the beginning of 2008, Bulgaria is a country from the EU with the largest emissions of particulate matter which inevitably reflects the quality of the ambient air11. The aim of the present research is to assess the degree and frequency of pollution of the ambient air in Bulgaria with particulate matter and define the most risky areas. EXPERIMENTAL We studied air pollution with particulate matter (PM10) in towns and villages in the Republic of Bulgaria. The quality control of ambient air (QAA) is performed by the Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Waters in fixed points/stations. In the period from 2006 to 2010, concentrations of PM10 have been measured in 53 points/stations, located in 34 towns and villages. The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is divided into 6 regions for evaluation and control of the quality of the ambient air (RECQAA). Settlements where control of air pollution is carried out, distributed by RECQAA, as well as possible sources of dust and PM10 are given in Table 1. Most of the stations are equipped with automatic measurement devices which work without interruption (24 h) and the data are received in real time by the respective regional points (regional data bases in Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water (RIEW)) and the central point in the Executive Environment Agency (EEA – national data base for QAA). In the manual points for monitoring the data is captured only during the day (for PM10 once daily from 2 to 4 p.m.). In our study, we used verified data for 24-hour concentrations of PM10 from the national data base. For the analysis of PM10 we used the following methods – in the automated stations – Bulgarian state standard 12341:2004; for manual methods – Bulgarian state standard 17-2-4-20-83. We processed the data for the period from 2006 to 2010 and calculated the mean annual concentrations, the maximum 24-hour values and the number of exceedances over the limit values. To evaluate the data we used national standard documents (Regulation No 9/1999 and Regulation No 12/2010) and Directive 2008/50/ЕО.
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Table 1. Regions and settlements for evaluation and control of ambient air quality
Regions (RECQAA)
Towns and villages, and number of stations with monitors on PM10
Sofia
Sofia 7 stations: 6 – automatic 1 – hand Plovdiv Plovdiv Asenovgrad 4 stations: 4 – automatic Varna Varna Devnya 3 stations: 3 – automatic North/Dan- Vidin, Vratsa, Montana, ube region Pleven, Lovech, Nikopol, Svishtov, Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Ruse, Silistra, Shumen, Dobrich 18 stations: 17 – automatic 1 – hand South-west Pirdop, Pernik, Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Kardzhali region 6 stations: 6 – automatic
Characteristics of the territory in terms of possible emissions of PM10 high urbanisation, with high density of buildings, very intensive motor traffic and industry – ferrous metallurgy, thermoelectric power station, etc. urbanised, with high density of buildings, intensive motor traffic and industry – nonferrous metallurgy, thermo-electric power station, etc. urbanised, with high density of buildings, intensive motor traffic and a lot of industry – chemical, cement, thermo-electric power station, etc. urbanised, with not high density of buildings, in bigger cities – with intensive motor traffic and industry – chemical, cement, thermo-electric power station, etc. use of solid and liquid fuel for daily needs
urbanised, with not high density of buildings, in bigger cities – with intensive motor traffic and considerable industry – ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, thermoelectric power station, etc. use of solid and liquid fuel for daily needs South-east/ Pazardzhik, Haskovo, urbanised, in the bigger cities with high Trakyiski Dimitrovgrad, Stara Zagora, density of buildings, with intensive motor region Radnevo, Galabovo, Burgas, traffic and considerable industry – petroSliven, Nesebar, Ostra Мogila chemical, energy, cement, fertiliser, etc. village, Razhena village 15 stations: 15 – automatic
Results and discussion The mean annual concentrations of PM10 for the period 2006 to 2010 for the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria are given in Fig. 1 and for comparison we present data for 1990 and 2000. 424
Fig. 1. Trends in mean annual concentrations of PM10 for the territory of Republic of Bulgaria
The highest mean annual concentrations during the studied period 2006–2010 were measured in 2008. This corresponds to higher emissions of PM10 measured during the inventory in 2008 (National Report for the Condition of the Environment, 2009). From 2006 to 2010, the mean annual concentrations of PM10 gradually decreased by 13.5%. Compared to 2000, this decrease was about 37% and compared to 1990 – 60%. Nevertheless, in 2010, the mean annual concentrations remained higher than the limit value (40 μg/m3). In Fig. 2, we illustrate the distribution of the towns and villages according to the exceedance of the mean year concentrations of PM10 above the limit value (40 μg/m3). We distinguish 3 groups – cities with mean annual concentration between 2–2.5 times the limit value; between 1.5 and 2 times the limit and between 1.0 and 1.5 times the limit. The data showed that in 16 to 23 towns there was exceedance of the limit value in some years. In the most of the cities the mean annual concentrations ranged between 40 and 60 μg/m3 (1–1.5 times the limit). Values above 2 times the limit were measured only in the period 2006–2008 in the cities of Pernik and Vidin. High concentrations of PM10 (from 1.5 to 2 times the limit) in the ambient air were measured in Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo, and in some years in Dimitrovgrad, Asenovgrad, Smolyan and Gorna Oryahovitsa. In Pirdop, Galabovo, Haskovo, Shumen, Pleven, Varna, Stara Zagora, Ruse and Silistra the concentrations of PM10 varied about the limit value. In the villages Ostra Mogila and Razhena, and Nesebar the PM10 were below the limit. The data showed that for the period 2006–2010 the problem was the most serious in Pernik and Vidin, where the mean annual concentration of PM10 was more than 2 times above the limit. There was a decrease of the values in the last two years for Pernik, whereas in Vidin the values increased in 2009 and remained the same in 2010. In the other cities there was a variation of the mean annual concentrations in the different years and although the considerable decrease after 2008, it increased slightly in 2010.
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legend: 2010 2006 2 to 2.5 limit value 1.5 to 1.99 limit value 1.0 to 1.49 limit value
Fig. 2. Distribution of the cities according to the exceedance of the mean annual concentration above the limit value of 40 μg/m3(years 2006, 2010)
The evaluation of the mean 24-hour concentration could be done according to 2 indices: comparing the 24-hour concentration of PM10 and the limit value (LV-50 μg/m3) and defining the cases (days) with exceedance of the limit compared to the tolerated number (35 times in a year according to Regulation No 9, Regulation No 12). Mean 24-hour concentrations above the limit value were registered in almost all points. The maximum values in the different years range from 1 to 10.5 times above the limit, and the highest values were measured in Pernik, Sofia, Plovdiv, Asenovgrad, Vidin, Varna, Silistra, Galabovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Svishtov, Dimitrovgrad and Stara Zagora. In Table 2, we show in 10-level scale (1 – 35 numbers/cases , 2 – 70 numbers, etc.), the distribution of the cities according to the increase of the tolerated number of cases per year. The year with the highest number of cases with concentrations above the limit value was 2008. According to this index, the condition of the ambient air was the most alarming in the cities of Pernik, Sofia, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo. In Pernik, the number of cases was above 350 which means that every day in 2008 the 24-hour concentration was above the limit value. In Sofia and Plovdiv values above 50 μg/m3 are measured in more than 300 days in the year, and in Veliko Tarnovo – above 280. During 2008, there were no exceedances above the limit in village Razhena and city Silistra. 426
Table 2. Distribution of the cities according to the number of cases (days) with increased mean 24-hour concentration above the limit value (50 μg/m3), limit number of cases (LNC) according to Regulation 12/2010 – 35 cases
Years 2008 Pernik
> 10 times LNC 8 to 9 times LNC
2006 2007 Pernik 2008 Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo 6 to 7 times LNC 2007 Sofia, Plovdiv 2008 2009 2010 2006 2008 2009 2010 2006 2008 2009 2010 2006 2007 2009 2010 2006 2007 2009 2010
Years 2008 Sofia
9 to 10 times LNC 7 to 8 times LNC
2006 Pernik 2007 2008 Dimitrovgrad 5 to 6 times LNC 2007 Dimitrovgrad 2008 Asenovgrad, Pirdop, Montana, Vidin Pernik, Vidin 2009 Vratsa Pernik, Vidin 2010 Vratsa 4 to 5 times LNC Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Svishtov Varna, Haskovo, Pazardzhik, Stara Zagora, Galabovo, Radnevo, Vratsa Plovdiv Plovdiv 3 to 4 times LNC Asenovgrad, Varna, Pirdop, Smolyan, Dimitrovgrad, Ruse, Montana Devnya, Burgas, Ruse Sofia, Asenovgrad, Dimitrovgrad, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Pleven, Montana Asenovgrad, Varna, Smolyan, Dimitrovgrad, Sliven, Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Pleven, Montana 2 to 3 times LNC Pazardzhik, Stara Zagora, Galabovo, Silistra, Vratsa, Vidin Asenovgrad, Pirdop, Blagoevgrad, Kardzhali, Smolyan, Stara Zagora, Ruse, Montana, Vidin Blagoevgrad, Kardzhali, Smolyan, Haskovo, Pazardzhik, Dobrich, Shumen, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Svishtov, Lovech Sofia, Kardzhali, Haskovo, Pazardzhik, Stara Zagora, Galabovo, Dobrich, Silistra, Shumen, Svishtov, Nikopol, Lovech 1 to 2 times LNC Devnya, Blagoevgrad, Kardzhali, Haskovo, Radnevo, Burgas, Pleven, Nikopol Varna, Pazardzhik, Galabovo, Radnevo, Burgas, Vratsa Varna, Pirdop, Galabovo, Burgas, Nesebar, Nikopol Pirdop, Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Nesebar, Ruse
In 2006, the highest number of cases with exceedance above the limit were registered in the cities of Pernik (more than 250 days), Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tar427
novo and Gorna Oryahovitsa (more than 160). In the limit of up to 35 days a year of 24-hour concentrations above the limit were Shumen and Nikopol. In 2007, air pollution with PM10 was the most frequent in the cities of Pernik (more than 280 days), Plovdiv, Sofia (more than 230 days/year), as well as in Dimitrovgrad (more than 190 days/year). Up to 35 cases with exceedance of the limit value are observed in Haskovo, Pleven and Shumen. In 2009, the cases with exceedance of the limit value were observed mostly in Vidin and Pernik – more than 220 days/year, Vratsa and Plovdiv – more than 170 days/year. During this year, the exceedance of the limit up to 35 days/year is observed in village Razhena and cities of Devnya and Silistra. The highest number of exceedances of the mean 24-hour limit value in 2010 was observed in Pernik and Vidin – more than 200 days/year, as well as in Vratsa – above 180 days/year. Mean daily concentrations above 50 μg/m3 were measured less than 35 days/year in the villages Razhena and Ostra Mogila and in the city of Devnya. In 2010 24-hour concentrations in the most of the cities were about 2–3 times the limit value. The analysis of the data for mean 24-hour concentrations showed that there was a frequent and important air pollution with PM10 in the cities of Pernik, Sofia, Plovdiv and Dimitrovgrad, where the concentration of PM10 increased more than 75% of the days in the year. In the cities of Asenovgrad, Montana, Pirdop, Vidin and Vratsa the 24-hour concentrations above the limit were measured during the half of the year. Only in the villages of Ostra Mogila and Razhena, there were less than 35 cases (days) with increased mean 24-hour concentration. In particular years this was observed in some cities as Shumen, Nikopol, Pleven, Haskovo, Devnya and Silistra. CONCLUSIONS From this study, we can conclude that: – PM10 are a constant component of the ambient air in the towns and villages in Bulgaria. During the period 2006–2010, the air pollution with PM10 decreased by 13.5% points, but even in 2010 the mean year concentrations remained higher than the limit value (1.1 times). – The best quality of the ambient air was found in the villages of Ostra Mogila and Razhena. – The strongest and permanent deterioration of air quality considering PM10 was observed in the cities of Pernik, Plovdiv, Sofia, Vidin and Veliko Tarnovo where the concentrations were the highest and the exceedances above the limit values were the most frequent. – In the other cities, there was also air pollution with PM10, but it varied in quality and frequency during the years. 428
– To solve this problem in Bulgaria, regulations require regions with exceedance of the limit values to develop ‘Programs for amelioration of the quality of the ambient air’. Acknowledgements. The research was conducted within the project ‘Analysis and Modelling of Air Pollution and Assessment of the Effect of the Green Areas in the Town of Pernik’ funded by the Science Research Fund of the University of Forestry, Bulgaria, 2011–2012.
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