Ambient Air Quality in the Czech Republic: Past and Present

Abstract

Based on an analysis of related core papers and reports, this review presents a historical perspective on ambient air pollution and ambient air quality development in the modern-day Czech Republic (CR) over the past seven decades, i.e., from the 1950s to the present. It offers insights into major air pollution problems, reveals the main hot spots and problematic regions and indicates the principal air pollutants in the CR. Air pollution is not presented as a stand-alone problem, but in the wider context of air pollution impacts both on human health and the environment in the CR. The review is arranged into three main parts: (1) the time period until the Velvet Revolution of 1989, (2) the transition period of the 1990s and (3) the modern period after 2000. Obviously, a major improvement in ambient air quality has been achieved since the 1970s and 1980s, when air pollution in the former Czechoslovakia culminated. Nevertheless, new challenges including fine aerosol, benzo[a]pyrene and ground-level ozone, of which the limit values are still vastly exceeded, have emerged. Furthermore, in spite of a significant reduction in overall emissions, the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen, in particular, remains high in some regions.

Physical activity in an air-polluted environment: behavioral, psychological and neuroimaging protocol for a prospective cohort study (Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment study – Program 4)

“…1 ). The Moravian-Silesian region has been long term European hotspot of ambient benzo [a] pyrene and particulate matter pollutants [ 63 ]. Exposure to benzo [a] pyrene air pollution in MSR (Ostrava-Radvanice) has been the highest in the European union for a decades [ 64 ].…”

Concentration Variability of Water-Soluble Ions during the Acceptable and Exceeded Pollution in an Industrial Region

“…Nevertheless, air pollution is still a large environmental health risk problem. The Ostrava-Karviná conurbation representing part of the Ostrava Basin is considered one of the most polluted areas in the European Union due to high concentrations of the most significant air pollutants, predominately airborne dust [14] and higher concentration of benzo(a)pyrene [15].…”

Characterization of PM10 Sampled on the Top of a Former Mining Tower by the High-Volume Wind Direction-Dependent Sampler Using INNA

“…The particular industrial character of the region along with its topography (basin surrounded by fairly high mountain ranges) and local meteorological conditions [3] causes its specific air pollution problems. The strategic industrial development of the region in the 1950s [4,5] initiated intensive population growth connected with substantial emissions from households. This effect has persisted until the present, as coal is still the most widely used fuel in the Polish border area [6,7].…”

“…Thus, the region is one of the most polluted in Europe [8]. The air pollution significantly exceeds the limit values of particulate matter (PM 10 , PM 2.5 ), benzo[a]pyrene and ozone [4,8,9] according to European legislation [10] and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines [11,12]. Both daily and long-term exposure to the substances mentioned above has a number of substantiated adverse biological effects [5,13].…”