Long-term Observation of Atmospheric Pollution in an Industrial Region in North-East Bulgaria during 2000-2015: Possibilities to Improve Air Quality

Abstract

A long-term research was made (2000-2015) of air pollution in the industrial region of Devnya, located in North-east Bulgaria. It has powerful industrial enterprises of great significance for the national economy: production of soda ash, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers, clinker and cement, as well as a coalfired thermal power plant. Basic pollutants were studied: SO2, NO2, CO, O3, PM10, NH3 and C6H6. The results indicate a significant decrease in the concentrations of all air pollutants after the introduction of the IPPC permits for the industrial and combustion plants (2005-2006) for the implementation of best available techniques, efficient purification facilities of waste gases, and strict control of harmful substances. The concentrations of pollutants at the end of period are much lower than in comparison with the start of the study, and the differences are of high statistical significance (0.001 ≤ Р ≤ 0.05). Implementation of the measures in IPPC permits, as well as measures aimed at lightand heavy-duty vehicles, fugitive emissions, an information campaign among the population regarding the quality of the fuels used and their impact on air pollution, as well as energy efficiency of buildings and its impact on fuel consumption, etc., are contributing to improving air quality.