Air pollution - Why care? (Slovakia)

SOER 2010 Common environmental theme (Deprecated)

This page was archived on 21 Mar 2015 with reason: A new version has been published

Why should we care about air pollution?

Topic: Air pollution

more info Organisation name SAZP Reporting country Slovakia Organisation website Organisation website Contact link Contact link Last updated 23 Nov 2010 Content license CC By 2.5 Content provider

Published: 26 Nov 2010 Modified: 11 May 2020 Feed synced: 23 Nov 2010 original

Air quality significantly affects the environment, human health, as well as the various ecosystems. The 1970s and 1980s in Slovakia were associated with high sulphur emissions. Heavy metals emissions (lead, cadmium) increased in some regions. Average concentrations of tropospheric ozone grew. Acidification and atmospheric pollution caused various environmental problems and had negative impacts on human health.

Since 1990, a very positive development with regard to local and regional air quality in Slovakia has been recorded as a result of transformational and restructuring processes in the Slovak economy (which were connected with the reduction in economic activities) as well as restructuring of industry, gradual increase in energy efficiency, growth in gas consumption, and the adoption of new legislation.

Nowadays, cross-border emissions significantly contribute to air pollution in Slovakia. In cities and surrounding areas, air pollution caused by particulate matter (PM₁₀) is currently the main problem.