State of the Environment 2003
What are the impacts of air quality in Bulgaria
A considerable decrease in ambient air pollutant emissions has been observed during the period 1998-2001which resulted in improvement of the air quality in the settlements. The main reasons for this are the slow-down in industrial activities and a drop in energy consumption, complemented by specific environmental protection measures. However, the expected economic growth in the years to come may undermine the ambient air quality improvement, if further environmental protection activities are not undertaken.
Air pollution and that of other related environmental media, along with the social welfare, lifestyle choices, and hereditary factors together have considerable impact on human health. The interrelation between morbidity of the population, air pollution, and drinking water quality has been studied in cities polluted by industry and transport sources.
These assessments show that compared to the average for the country, the highest morbidity rate is registered in cities adversely affected by chemical, oil processing and metallurgic industry, as well as in the areas with intensive road transport.
Respiratory diseases are the most common ones in the morbidity pattern of the country as a whole, as well as in all studied cities. Higher morbidity is registered in Nikopol, Devnya, Svishtov, Dimitrovgrad, Assenovgrad (most significant in Devnya and Assenovgrad), where increased rate of acute respiratory tract diseases is observed. Chronic respiratory diseases are especially prevalent in cities affected by the chemical and oil processing industries (Devnya, Bourgas, Stara Zagora), as well as in regions experiencing the adverse effect of ferrous metallurgy (Kurdjali, Plovdiv, Assenovgrad). Chronic bronchitis and emphysema prevail in Devnya and Svishtov.
Bronchial asthma often develops among people living in cities affected by the chemical industry (Devnya, Bourgas, Vratza and Rousse). A significantly high rate of asthmatic diseases is registered in Devnya, where it is twice as high as the average for the country.
The morbidity pattern of cardio-vascular diseases reflects the environmental pollution in regions affected by the chemical industry and metallurgy, as well as in settlements with intensive road transport.
Air pollution containing organic and non-organic carcinogens contributes to an increase in the rate and frequency of cancer.
Lead and cadmium content in the blood of school-aged and pre-school-aged children in regions heavily polluted by heavy metals (those, affected by ferrous metallurgy) evidences exposure to a significant health risk.
At present there are a lot of experimental and epidemiological data related to the adverse impact of the air pollutants on the immune system, leading to suppression or disruption of its functions and resulting in a significant increase in the level of infections and allergic conditions.
The above-stated data show that environmental pollution adversely affects human health, which is reflected in increased morbidity. This impact is most salient in the adversely affected areas. The pollutants generating the most risk are the heavy metals (lead, chrome, manganese), arsenic, cadmium and the sulphur gases (hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide).
Last update on March 2003