Respiratory Health Effects of Air Pollution and Climate Parameters in the Population of Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Romania

Abstract

Air pollution represents a problem for the population’s health in Drobeta Turnu-Severin, south-west Romania since 1970, when heavy industry started developing fast. Political openings to the western world created opportunities for great investments and development of industry. The impact of air pollution on health became a major concern, especially when a Heavy Water Plant was built on the northern side of the city. Some acute accidents occurred in this Plant and, in order to prevent them, an efficient and modern monitoring system and special protection perimeters were created. Severe accidents disappeared and the values of H2S (hydrogen sulphide) were kept at very low levels. The population’s reaction to the air pollution risk decreased in time. Instead, there were air pollution sources that emitted for a long period of time particulate matter (PM) at very high levels, and gases. A Paper Plant and numerous Power Plants necessary to sustain the heavy industry became significant sources of air pollution. Coal and oil were the main fuels used. The local authorities decided at that time to pay attention to particles and gases, carefully monitoring their levels in the air. Thus, very high levels of deposited particles and sulphates and not so high levels of total suspended particles (TSP) were registered; the maximal TSP concentration admitted daily being 150 μg/m3. After 1989, when the Revolution changed the economical system, a great part of the heavy industry was diminished, the industrial sources of air pollution became weaker, and the capacity of monitoring pollution decreased slowly but continuously. A good monitoring system was preserved at the Heavy Water Plant, and an alternative monitoring system was created, to investigate air pollution in the city (Environmental Protection Agency). Unfortunately, there were not created any conditions to establish the levels of PM10 (with mass median aerodynamic diameter MMAD less than 10 μm), coarse particles or PM10-2.5 (MMAD between 10 and 2.5 μm) and fine particles (MMAD of 2.5 μm) [Monn, 2001] yet. Observations of photochemical oxidants were performed only in special situations. Stationary air pollution sources diminished in importance, and traffic became a