State of the Environment Bulgaria 2003
In Bulgaria noise pollution is mainly monitored in the areas with the busiest transport sectors, which includes places that are most sensitive to noise pollution (hospitals and schools, recreational sites, etc.).
The data concerning noise pollution is poor in comparison with the data related to other environmental problems. Very often it is difficult to compare even the existing data, due to different methods for measurement and assessment used by the various institutions.
The critical areas in terms of acoustics are defined at the regional, municipal or city levels. Their identification allows for more targeted fighting of noise pollution. There are two ways to do this: first, eliminating the source of noise (differentiating pedestrian footpaths, encircling road segments, etc.), and second, decreasing noise levels (building barriers or different types of noise protective facilities).
A system for preparation of the annual noise characteristics of the settlements is functioning. These reports serve as the preparation of a comprehensive assessment of the noise pollution for all cities that are regional centres within the country, as well as some of the other bigger cities. In essence, the noise characteristic of a settlement represents an annual report that is used for drawing up of measures for decreasing the noise. The regional Hygiene and Epidemiology Inspectorates (HEI) of the Ministry of Health performs measurements and monitor the noise levels in many sites subject to specific control, both during their commissioning and during their operation.
*Source: National Centre of Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Nitrition
Monitoring stations have been established for registration of the noise in the cities.
Last update on March 2003