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8 1. Air and ater Pollution W

sources. For reasons of comparison, the population of each city is also presented. Total sus-
pended particulates refer to smoke, soot, dust, and liquid droplets from comb ustion that are
in the air. It has to be noted that particulate leels are an indicator of the quality of the air v
and the state of a country’s technology and pollution controls. Although pollutant concen-
v trations are sensitie to local conditions, and therefore, the data presented should be con-
,
sidered as a general indication of air quality in each city some comparisons can be
conducted. WHO annual mean guidelines for air quality standards are 90 g/m 3 for total
suspended particulates, 50 g/m 3 for sulfur dioxide, and 50 g/ m 3 for nitrogen dioxide.
urin,
Sofia, Athens, T and Barcelona, all in south Europe, exhibit the highest concentra-
tions of total suspended particulates, aboe the WHO standard value. Concerning sulfur
v
dioxide, all the cities presented exhibit concentration values below the standard set by
WHO. In contrast, nitrogen dioxide is a cause for concern in many European cities, since
values close to or aboWHO standards are common. For this compound, cities in north- e v
ern Europe also hae to be on alert. v
The combination of Tables 1.2 and 1.3 reveals the responsibility for each kind of air pol-
, lution. Specif road transport is the main source of nitrogen dioxide, whereas the
ically
increased sulfur dioxide levels should be attributed to the energy sector. Both sources con-
tribute to increased leels of total suspended particulates in the atmosphere. It is ob v vious
that this type of information is a valuable asset for environmental policy mak ers.
Measurements in relation to air quality and exhaust emissions from automotie v v ehicles
have been conducted for many years, and as a result, the eolution of air quality and the v
contribution of vehicles are known to authorities. Ho this is not the case for indus-
we
er
,
v
try. Even if the contribution of industry to air pollution could be roughly estimated, it w as
f very dificult to connect each kind of industrial process to each pollutant. This lack of
information led to the idea of establishing a Pollutant Release and Transfer Re gister
(PRTR), which fged in the United States following the tragic accident in Bhopal, irst emer
,
India, in 1984. Shortly thereafter the United States Congress approed the Emer v y genc
Planning and Community Right-to-KnoAct, establishing a register called the T oxic
w
,
Release Inventory (TRI), which tracks releases to all media (air w and land) and of , ater f-
site transfers of more than 600 chemicals.
A look into the origins of U TRI .S.
In 1984, a deadly cloud of methyl isocyanate killed thousands of people in
Bhopal, India. Shortly thereafter there w , as a serious chemical release at
a sister plant in West Virginia. These incidents underscored demands
ork
by industrial wers and communities in seeral states for infor- v
mation on hazardous materials. Public interest and en vironmental
organizations around the country accelerated demands for informa-
tion on toxic chemicals being released. Against this background,
the Emery Planning and Community Right-to-Kno Act w
genc
(EPCRA) was enacted in 1986. EPCRAs primary purpose is to ’
inform communities and citizens of chemical hazards in their
areas. Sections 311 and 312 of EPCRA require businesses to report the
locations and quantities of chemicals stored on-site to state and local governments in order
to help communities prepare to respond to chemical spills and similar emergencies. EPCRA