PARTICULATE MATTER STATUS IN ROMANIAN URBAN AREAS: PM10 POLLUTION LEVELS IN BUCHAREST

Abstract

In the present study, the results of PM10 pollution levels assessment in the most populated town from Romania, namely Bucharest, the capital of the country are presented for a 10 years period, 2004 -2013, respectively, with the aim of emphasizing the progress recorded after the implementation of Directive 2004/107/EC and Directive 2008/50/EC provisions.Data were collected from 8 monitoring stations located in different areas of Bucharest.PM10, Cd, Pb and Ni from PM10 averages are presented by each sampling point, and by year, during a 10 years period (2003 -2014).The raw data were available from the Romanian National Agency of Environmental Protection.IBM SPSS software, v. 6.0 was used for data processing.Even if some progress was reported for air quality in Bucharest (mainly in heavy traffic areas) from the point of view of PM10 pollution subsequently to directives implementation, important issues have to be solved, taken into account that industrial areas are still important PM10 sources.In this respect, further research will be opportune for identifying the potential contribution of PM10 background pollution in concerned areas.