Graphic Yearbook 2015
I. INTRODUCTION
Ambient air pollution is one of the most serious problems in the field of environmental protection. Polluted air has proven negative effects on human health. Pollutants can cause a wide range of health problems: from less severe conditions to serious diseases and even premature death. Pollutants also negatively affect vegetation. They can influence plant growth and cause decreased yields of agricultural crops and forests. They also cause eutrophication and acidification of soil and water ecosystems 1, leading to changes in species composition and a reduction of plant and animal species diversity. Many pollutants can accumulate in the environment, negatively influence whole ecosystems and enter the food chain. In addition, some of them directly or indirectly influence the climate system of the Earth. It is also necessary to mention the damage caused by ambient air pollutants to materials and, often historical, buildings.
In the last quarter-century, a number of measures were implemented, be it in cases of important sources, local heating or transport, that have brought a significant reduction of air pollution in the Czech Republic. Still, however, a number of economic and social activities continue to produce large amounts of pollution. This pollution, in combination with meteorological and dispersion conditions, results in exceedances of limit values for certain pollutants, especially in some regions. At present, the most problematic of all monitored pollutants are suspended particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bound to them. In summer periods, the limit values for ground-level ozone are also exceeded at many localities.
Local household heating using solid fuels is generally a significant source of suspended particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (both in the Czech Republic and across EU countries). In areas burdened by traffic, increased concentrations of nitrogen dioxide may occur. Transport is another important source of suspended particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Public and industrial energetics, agri- culture and solvent use in the case of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) still remain significant sources of pollution. However, the parti- cular contributions of individual sources to overall air pollution levels vary in different areas, depending not only on the composition of sources in the given area, but also on the transfer of pollutants from other areas.
I.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE PUBLICATION
The yearbook ‘Air Pollution in the Czech Republic in 2015’, together with the electronically published annual Summary Table Survey, constitutes a comprehensive annual overview of data and information on ambient air quality in the territory of the Czech Republic. The presented assessment of ambient air quality is based on measurement data collected by the Air Quality Information System (AQIS) of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) using other data sources and mathematical tools. The Summary Table Survey presents verified measurement air pollution data and data on the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation at individual localities, including aggregated data. The graphical yearbook presents commented summary information in the form of maps, graphs and tables.
The introduction to this yearbook deals with the political and legislative framework of ambient air quality protection in the Czech Republic, the characterization of main air pollutants from the perspective of their possible impacts on human health and the environment, and phenomena that govern pollutant levels in the atmosphere (i.e. sources of pollution and meteorological and dispersion conditions in the given year). The main part of this yearbook is dedicated to ambient air quality and the occurrence of smog situations in the Czech Republic. Chapters dealing with the no less important topics of atmospheric deposition and emissions of greenhouse gases are located near the end of the publication. Information about the database used, the methodology and the mapping uncertainty is presented in the last two chapters.
Ambient air quality is assessed strictly pursuant to the current national legislation (Act No. 201/2012 Coll. on air protection, as amended, and Decree No. 330/2012 Coll. on the method of assessment and evaluation of ambient air pollution levels and on the extent of informing the public about levels of ambient air pollution and during smog situations) and pursuant to the requirements of the European Union. The assessment is carried out from the perspective of human health protection and the pro- tection of ecosystems and vegetation. Map results are a necessary prerequisite for the indication of areas exceeding limit values for the protection of human health, for which programmes aimed at improving ambient air quality or regulatory codes are required by the legislation.
Yearbooks on ambient air quality are primarily intended for bodies and organizations dealing with and managing environmental issues and ambient air protection in the Czech Republic. They are periodically provided to state administration bodies, to all contributors to the AQIS database and to further selected entities. Each yearbook is publicly available on the website of the CHMI at www.chmi.cz.
I.2 POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY
PROTECTION
The extent of air pollution is objectively ascertained by monitoring concentrations of ambient air pollutants (air pollution monitoring) in the ground layer of the atmosphere within a network of measuring stations (Fig. I.1; for more details, see Chapter XI). Limit values have been set for pollutants that are monitored and evaluated with regard to provable harmful effects on human health or on vegetation and ecosystems. Air quality evaluation mainly entails comparisons between recorded concentrations of pollutants and their respective limit values (Tabs. I.1 and I.2) permissible frequencies of their exceedance, i.e. concentrations levels which should not be exceeded pursuant to applicable legislation.
The basic strategic document of the EU in the field of ambient air quality assessment and management is the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution (hereinafter the Strategy). The objective of the Strategy, in accordance with the 6th Environment Action Programme, is to achieve ‘the level of ambient air quality which does not give rise to the risks for human health and the environment and does not have markedly negative impacts on them’. Based on the 2005 Strategy, the European Commission carried out a review of the current EU policy in the field of ambient air protection. This resulted in the adoption of a package of measures (Clean Air Policy Package) in December 2013. The package contains, for instance, the programme document ‘Clean Air for Europe’ outlining new objectives concerning ambient air quality for the period up to 2030, a draft of a revision of the directive on national emissions ceilings with stricter national emissions ceilings for six major pollutants, or a draft of a new directive on the reduction of pollution caused by medium-sized combustion sources (EC 2013a).
Within the EU framework, the main tools for the protection and improvement of ambient air quality include: Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, Directive 2004/107/EC relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air, Directive 2001/81/EC on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants, and European Parliament and Council Directive No. 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions (integrated prevention and pollution limitation). Newly there is also the EU Commission Decree 2015/1480 from 28 August 2015, which amends several annexes to the European Parliament and Council Decrees 2004/107/ES and 2008/50/ES, which set the rules for the reference methods, data verification and placement of sampling sites for assessing exterior air quality.
In response to the European Commission’s requirement for a coherent approach to air quality control in the Czech Republic, a medium-term strategy (up to the year 2020) for improving air quality in the Czech Republic was prepared. This conceptual document was approved in December 2015 and summarizes all outputs of the National Programme for Reducing Emissions in the Czech Republic and ten programmes for improving air quality elaborated for designated zones and agglomerations. Among other things, it serves as a source of information for financing measures for lowering emissions and improving air from EU funds via operational programmes (MŽP 2015).
The national legislation on air quality evaluation in the Czech Republic is harmonized with the European legislation. Act No. 201/2012 Coll. on air protection, as amended (hereinafter the Air Protection Act) defines among others the zones and agglomerations for ambient air quality evaluation. The details are specified in Decree No. 330/2012 Coll. on the method of assessment and evaluation of ambient air pollution level, on the extent of informing the public on the level of ambient air pollution and during smog situations.
Zones and agglomerations are primarily understood as basic units for air quality management. The Air Protection Act defines three agglomerations – the agglomeration of Prague, the agglomeration of Brno and the Ostrava/Karviná/Frýdek-Místek agglomeration – and seven zones (Fig. I.2).
The yearbook presents an evaluation of air quality in the year 2014 pursuant to the requirements of the Czech legislation on air quality protection. In accordance with the Air Protection Act, the evaluation is aimed at defining areas with exceedances of limit values for the protection of health and the protection of ecosystems and vegetation. Whenever a limit value is exceeded in a zone or agglomeration or if the limit value is exceeded in a zone or agglomeration more times than the set maximum number of exceedances, the Ministry of the Environment is obliged to develop, in cooperation with the respective regional or local authority, a programme aimed at the improvement of air quality for the given zone or agglomeration within 18 months following the end of the calendar year in which the limit value was exceeded. During the preparation of each programme, the Ministry adopts such measures to ensure that the limit value is met as soon as possible.
Limit values are based on recommended (guideline) values set by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the basis of a number of epidemiological studies (Table I.3). For the protection of public health, the WHO recommends maintaining pollutant concentrations at levels that are lower than those at which negative effects on human health are documented. Nevertheless, these values stem from conclusions regarding the health effects of ambient air pollution and do not take into account the issues of technical and economic feasibility and further political and social factors. Therefore, limit values set by the legislation may be higher, but the process heading towards the meeting of WHO guideline values must generally be supported (WHO 2013).
I.3 AMBIENT AIR POLLUTANTS AND THEIR EFFECTS
Ambient air pollution is one of the factors which affect human health. Air pollution can manifest itself by the occurrence or worsening of subjective symptoms or by objective health disorders, which may be partially caused by exposure to substances contained in ambient air, especially through the respiratory tract (SZÚ 2016).
Health effects may include slight temporary changes in the respiratory tract and impaired pulmonary function, reduced performance, the need to find first aid, hospitalization or even death. There is growing evidence that air pollution adversely affects not only the respiratory system, but also the cardiovascular system. Some pollutants have carcinogenic effects, influence the functioning of endocrine glands, or affect foetal development and growth (SZÚ 2015a).
As mentioned above, ambient air pollutants have negative effects also on vegetation and ecosystems. Many pollutants have the ability to accumulate in the environment or cause damage to materials and buildings.
Tab. I.3 WHO Air Quality Guidelines for the protection of public health (WHO 2000, WHO 2014)
Tab. I.4 WHO Air Quality Guidelines for the protection of vegetation (WHO 2000)
Fig. I.1 Major station networks of ambient air quality monitoring, 2014
Fig. I.2 The zones and agglomerations for ambient air quality assessment and evaluation of ambient air pollution level according to the Act No. 201/2012 Coll. on Clean Air Protection, as amended
1 Eutrophication is the process whereby the environment is enriched by nitrogen and phosphorus. Acidification is the decrease in pH.
