site.btaSofia Impacted by Nitrogen Dioxide Pollution, Environmentalists Warn

Hazardous levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution were measured in many parts of Sofia with a significant human presence such as residential areas, office spaces and business buildings, major public transport stops and schools, according to a press release sent by the Za Zemiata / Friends of the Earth Bulgaria association on Monday.

The association drew a report entitled "Nitrogen dioxide air pollution before, during and after the low emission transport zone in Sofia", which estimated that in 34 out of 36 locations, nitrogen dioxide concentrations were higher than the annual average of 40 micrograms per cu m in any given month. Apart from the locations of the Executive Environment Agency, excess nitrogen dioxide pollution was detected across the capital, which suggests that the city has no adequate measures in place, the report concludes. The main source of emissions is internal combustion engine vehicles, especially diesel ones.

Za Zemiata recommend rapid and effective measures to limit air pollution from transport, as those could reduce levels of both fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. They added: "There is also a need to reassess the location and classification of official measuring stations, so that they meet legal requirements, as well as installing additional ones to account for transport pollution."

In late October, Sofia's Deputy Mayor for Ecology Nadezhda Bobcheva reported that low-emission zones will be reintroduced in Sofia from December 1 as a measure against air pollution.