The city of Baia Mare is located in the
Baia Mare Depression, a region which is characterized by intense anthropogenic
activity. Due to the long-lasting local mining and metallurgical tradition,
this area was among the most problematic in the country in terms of historical
pollution and its consequences. In Baia Mare, pollution is chronic
(historical), but also diversified, with several notable sources. The present
paper, the first part of a complex three-piece study, aims to provide an
overview of the historical sources of air pollution in Baia Mare, while the
second part will highlight the air quality evolution in Baia Mare between 1995
and 2006, and the third and final piece will analyse the effects of this
chronic pollution on human health. This article is a historical, descriptive
and analytical investigation of the main sources of historical environmental
pollution (including air pollution) in Baia Mare. The aim of the study is to
highlight the activities carried out by these polluting companies and to
emphasize the contribution of these activities and various technological
processes to air pollution in Baia Mare, between 1995 and 2006. The industry in
Maramures County, where Baia Mare is located, had a significant contribution to
the country’s lead, copper, gold and silver production. At the same time, due
to the nature of their activities, these industrial branches were heavy
polluters. The historical environmental pollution (including air pollution) in
Baia Mare had three major sources: the National Company of Precious and
Nonferrous Metals (NCPNM) - Remin Corporation; Cuprom Corporation; Romplumb
Corporation. NCPNM - Remin Corporation processed polymetallic deposits of lead,
zinc, copper and ferro-manganese deposits, and the company was an important
producer of gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper concentrates. The basic
activity of Cuprom Corporation consisted of extracting nonferrous metals by
pyrometallurgically processing cuprous and gold concentrates. The main activity
performed by Romplumb Corporation was obtaining decopperised lead by
pyrometallurgically processing lead-cuprous concentrates. The activities of the
three major companies led to the systematic exceedances of limit values set for
the pollutants resulting from various technological processes, namely suspended
particulate matter, heavy metals and SO2. All three companies were
active for decades and, until the early 2000s, environmental protection was not
a priority in the technological process management of these three metallurgical
centres. Unfortunately, after the year 2000, investments in green technologies
were insufficient and, starting with 2008, the economic crisis also affected
the three companies mentioned above. Currently, NCPNM - Remin and Romplumb
Corporations are insolvent and Cuprom Corporation is bankrupt.
Journal Section | Articles |
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Authors | |
Publication Date | December 27, 2017 |
Acceptance Date | December 10, 2017 |
Published in Issue | Year 2017 |
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