Environment of the Slovak Republic in 1993-2003
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Slovak environmental agency Centre for Environmental Policy and Informatics Banska Bystrica BASIC DATA ON THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC Basic geographical and demographical data on the Slovak Republic Size and borders of the Slovak Republic Population by basic age categories (as of December 31, 2002) - in thousands of people Indicator Size as of 31. 12.2001 (km2) 49035 Length of borders (km, %) total, 1 672 (100.0%) including with: • Czech Republic 251.8(15.1%) • Hungary 668.6 (40.0%) • Poland 547.1 (32.7%) • Austria 106.0 (6.3%) • Ukraine 98.5 (5.9%) Lowest point: outflow of the Bodrog river from SI 94 (above the sea level) Highest point: Gerlachovsky stit (above the sea 2 655 v tis. os6b level.) □ Men | Women Source: SU SR Source: SU SR Density of population in Slovak districts in 2002 Source: SU SR Size of land per capita by regions (ha) - as Size and population count by regions - as of of December 31, 2002 December 31, 2002 count population Source: SU SR Source: SU SR AIR EMISSIONS Emissions of nitrogen oxides Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) have shown insignificant reduction since 1990. Slight increase in emissions (releases from pollution sources into the immediate environment) in 1995 was related to increased consumption of natural gas. Decrease in 1996 was caused by a change to the emission factor that took into consideration the current level of equipment and technology of incineration processes. Reduction in solid fuel consumption since 1997 has led to a further decrease in NOx emissions. NOx emissions in 2001 dropped approximately by 50.8% when compared to 1990. Trend in emissions of nitrogen oxides 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Source: SHMU NOx emissions in territories - 2001 (tonnes.km 2) Source: SHMU Air pollution in Slovakia (NEIS), quantity ofNOx emissions according to NACE for tonnes the year 2001 Production and distribution of electricity, gas, and water (NACE code E) 27,119.57 Industrial production (code NACE-u D) 28,701.70 Immovables, leasing and business activities (NACE code K) 1,781.94 Public administration, defence, mandatory social security (NACE code L) 358.68 Other stationary sources (large + medium-size sources) 1,441.51 Stationary sources total (large + medium-size sources) 59,403.42 Source: SHMU AIR EMISSIONS Emissions of sulphur dioxide Emissions sulphur dioxide (SOz) have shown a steady reduction since 1990, which, apart from reduction in production and energy consumption, has been caused by a change within the fuel group to more purified fuels and by improving quality characteristics of used fuels. Decreasing trend in SOb emissions since 1996 continued also in 2000, caused by reduced consumption of brown coal, lignite, and heavy heating oil (SE, a.s., Elektrame Novaky, o.z. Zemianske Kostol ’any, SE, a.s., Elektraren Vojany I and II, and Slovnaft, a.s., Bratislava) and desulphurating of large energy sources (SE, a.s.,Elektrame Novaky, o.z. Zemianske Kostol ’any). Meanwhile, there has been an increase in natural gas consumption. SO2 emissions in 2001 dropped approximately by 76.3%, compared to 1990. Trend in sulphur dioxide emissions 600,000 c 400,000 -o 300,000 in 200,000 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Source: SHMU S02 emissions in territories - 2001 (tonnes.km2) Source: SHMU Air pollution in Slovakia (NEIS), volume of SOz emissions according to NACE for tonnes the vear 2001 Production and distribution of electricity, gas, and water (NACE code E) 69,285.37 Industrial production (NACE code D) 41,266.03 Extraction of minerals (NACE ode C) 3,821.46 Public administration, defence, mandatory social security (NACE code L) 812.85 Other stationary sources (large + medium-size sources) 1,291.59 Stationary sources total (large + medium-size sources) 116,477.32 Source: SHMU AIR EMISSIONS Particulate matter emissions Particulate matter emissions (PM) have been gradually decreasing since 1990. This has been caused not only by less production and energy consumption, but also by a change in the fuel base toward pure fuels, as well as by improving quality characteristics of fuels used. Reduction in particulate matter emissions was further contributed to by continuing introduction of separation equipment (Slovnaft, a.s., Bratislava), or increasing its efficiency, respectively. PM emissions in 2001 were decreased by 83.5%, compared to 1990. Trend in particulate matter emissions 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Source: SHMU PM emissions in territories (tonnes.km 2) Source: SHMU Air pollution in Slovakia (NEIS), volume of PM emissions according to NACE for tonnes the vear 2001 Industrial production ( NACE code D) 22,802.79 Production and distribution of electricity, gas, and water (NACE code E) 9,150.22 Public administration, defence, mandatory social security (NACE code L) 658.25 Extraction of minerals (NACE code C) 274.75 Other stationary sources (large + medium-size sources) 1,240.98 Stationary sources total (large + medium-size sources) 34,127.01 Source: SHMU AIR EMISSIONS Carbon monoxide emissions Carbon monoxide emissions (CO) since 1990 have shown a falling tendency, which was caused mainly by reduced consumption and change in fuel composition in the sphere of retail consumers. CO emissions from incineration processes of large-size sources are also slightly decreasing. The most significant share on CO emissions from large-size sources comes from iron and steel industry. Reduction in CO emissions in 1992 was due to decreased volume of iron and steel production. In 1993, after the mentioned production reached the level of 1989, CO emissions increased correspondingly. Since 1996, emissions have continued to decrease slightly. CO emissions in 2001 decreased by 42.1%, compared to 1990. Trend in carbon monoxide emissions 600.000 -g 300,000 | 200,000 p £ 100,000 0,000 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Source: SHMU CO emissions in territories (t.km 2) Source: SHMU Air pollution in Slovakia (NEIS), volume of CO emissions according to NACE for tonnes the vear 2001 Industrial production (NACE code D) 115,017.00 Production and distribution of electricity, gas, and water (NACE code E) 3,851.36 Public administration, defence, mandatory social security (NACE code L) 2,015.20 Extraction of minerals (NACE code C) 1,720.03 Other stationary sources (large + medium-size sources) 2,854.21 Stationary sources total (large + medium-size sources) 125,457.82 Source: SHMU AIR EMISSIONS Emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) are all organic compounds of anthropogenic nature other than methane, which through reaction with nitrogen oxides and in the presence of sunlight are able to produce photochemical oxidants, with ozone being the most important of these oxidants. Ozone is an exceptionally toxic substance, which at very low concentrations negatively impacts human health, vegetation, and materials. Reduction in ozone concentration in the ground atmospheric level is possible through reduction in VOC emissions, while at the same time reducing NOx emissions. Trend in emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) reduction objective of the Protocol on acidification, eutrofication, and ground ozone reduction 250000 200000 "eduction objective of the Ftotocol on ——— */OCreduction or its trans-boundary transfer between 150000 -48 /o _<sno/„ _sn<>/„ 50000 Source: SHMU Balance in NMVOC emissions by sectors of their origin (tonnes) Sector 1990 1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Cobustion on energy and transformation 335 276 258 257 247 265 228 201 221 industries Non-industrial combustion plants 9,576 5,496 3,095 3,590 2,761 2,761 2,761 2,899 2,590 Combustion in manufacturing industry 1,171 1,169 1,083 1,270 1,291 993 632 868 871 Production processes 155,410 64,160 70,961 74,840 60,632 56,758 61,112 24,494 23,647 Extraction and distribution of natural 8,822 8,868 81,535 8,104 9,336 5,854 6,606 5,929 6,169 resources Solvent and other products use 48,071 38,301 41,166 39,781 30,762 32,221 29,429 29,063 28,956 Road traffic 33,070 30,699 32,651 31,510 31,617 32,023 28,240 24,371 26,173 Other traffic 953 543 599 609 584 659 571 528 524 Waste treatment and disposal 4,538 1,339 259 147 153 226 180 208 180 Agriculture 651 436 436 436 436 436 436 436 436 Total 262,596 151,287 159,042 160,544 137,819 132,195 130,195 88,997 89,767 Source: SHMU Emissions NMVOC emissions dropped in 2001 by 66% when compared to 1990. This trend was mainly caused by reduction in coating compounds and by gradual introduction of low-solvent types of coatings, extensive introduction of measures in the sector of crude oil processing and fuel distribution, change in fuel base in the energy sector, and by change to the portfolio of automobiles with dominant vehicles equipped with operated catalysers. AIR EMISSIONS Heavy metals emissions Heavy metals that pollute the atmosphere include a group of metals and metalloids with specific weight of elements above 4 g.cm" 3. Altogether, there are approximately 60 elements of this characteristics, such as lead, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, mercury, cadmium, tin, and wolfram. From all these mentioned heavy metals, lead is the most noticeable. Lead influences the nervous system and its negative influence is manifested in the process of erythrocyte formation. Copper may cause problems of indigestion, whereas inhaled particles of manganese accumulate in internal organs, especially in the liver, lungs, spleen, and brain.