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STATE OF AIR
Hungary's air quality, in spite of reduction of "traditional"
air pollutants emitted in great quantities in the recent decades, is still unsatisfactory,
in several respects. Altogether 3.9 % (3590 km2) of the territory
of the country is regarded as "polluted", and 9.3 % (8674 km2)
as "moderately polluted".
Analysing the main trends of the past decades it can be stated
that the air quality of the country is predominantly determined by the economic
processes, even today. The measuring records over the last two decades truly
reflected those positive and negative tendencies which have taken place due
to the economic changes and environmental measures. During the years following
the change of regime, such changes were the decline in industrial production,
disintegration of the large-scale manufacturing plants and the progression of
the public road traffic with changes in its composition.
In Hungary the most dangerous polluting source is the traffic
sector, contributing 50 % in the total emission, concerning carbon-monoxide,
nitrogen-oxides and hydrocarbons, in 1995. Second main polluting factor in the
order is industry, followed by household-emissions.
Source: Department for Integrated Pollution Control, M.E.
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From the trends it is clear that there has been a long-term and constant decrease in the emission of sulphur dioxide in particulate matter. The total amount of nitrogen oxide discharge derived from traffic is almost constant, although its ratio has increased. One of the greatest achievements of the past years is the significant decrease in lead emission which derived mainly from traffic.
Trend of lead emission in
Hungary (ton/year) |
Source: Department for Integrated Pollution Control, M.E. |
