Baia Mare, the former
mining and metallurgical industry capital of Romania, is one of the most
problematic areas in the country in terms of historical pollution and its
consequences. The present paper, as the second part of a complex three-piece
study, aims to analyze the air quality evolution in Baia Mare between 1995 and
2006. In the previous piece, the first of this series, we provided an overview
of the sources of historical air pollution in Baia Mare. In the third and final
scientific paper, we will analyze the effects of this chronic pollution on
human health. This article constitutes an analysis of the air quality in Baia
Mare, representing a historical investigation of this important environmental
issue in the city’s area. Our work updates and expands the body of information
provided by previous papers on the topic of environmental pollution in Baia
Mare, its purpose being to highlight the chronic air pollution with
sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, suspended and sedimentary
particulate matters, as well as heavy metals between 1995 and 2006. As a result
of the above, it can be concluded that the air quality in Baia Mare in 1995 –
2006 was especially critical due to high concentrations of particulate matters
presenting high lead and cadmium content, as well as high sulphur dioxide
concentrations. These pollutants were generated by mining and metallurgical
units (Remin, Phoenix/Cuprom and Romplumb Corporations), alongside other
factors: tailing dumps and tailing ponds in the Baia Mare area, where the
particulates were spread around by the air currents; industrial and residential
heating equipments with solid fuel; road traffic, including road dust
resuspension; mix-asphalt installations; woodworking etc. The calm weather
conditions, unfavourable to the dispersion of pollutants in the Baia Mare area,
have also contributed to the air quality deterioration. However, for the
selected timeframe, the pollutant evolution tendency in the local atmosphere
showed a decrease of the heavy metal and sulphur dioxide concentrations, which
was a result of reduced productive activity for all the local heavy-polluters
and not due to the investments aimed at improving urban air quality, which did
not lead to any significant changes. Currently, Remin and Romplumb Corporations
are insolvent and Cuprom Corporation is bankrupt.
Journal Section | Articles |
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Authors | |
Publication Date | December 27, 2017 |
Submission Date | October 1, 2017 |
Published in Issue | Year 2017Volume: 3 Issue: 9 |
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