New data on air pollution in the former Soviet Union

The distal impact of Icelandic volcanic gases and aerosols in Europe: a review of the 1783 Laki Fissure eruption and environmental vulnerability in the late 20th century

“…Much of this material is transported to the east by prevailing winds and research is currently under way to investigate the relationship, if any, between sulphur emission, regional air circulation and severe air pollution events in Athens. The exceedence of safety guidelines for atmospheric pollution in European cities is common, particularly under stable atmospheric conditions (UNEP/WHO 1992;Klidonas 1993;Bower et al 1994;Shahgedanova & Burt 1994), precisely the conditions which favour the concentration of volcanic gases in toxic concentrations. Ecological literature emphasizes the concept of 'Critical thresholds' when estimating the likely impact of a pollutant.…”

Allocating Costs of Environmental Management among Generations: A Case of Environmental Liabilities in Transition Economies

“…Serious environmental issues occurred in various parts of the USSR, and became serious impediments to the economic growth of the new transition economies. Shahgedanova and Burt (1994) examined the emissions and ambient concentrations of four major air pollutants (suspended particles, SO 2 , NO X , and CO) of the USSR between 1980 and 1991, and noted the severity of the pollutants during this decade. Several countries, including (East) Germany, Poland and Bulgaria, came to regard these environmental liabilities as barriers to economic development, and have instituted policy and regulatory frameworks for managing issues (World Bank 2007a).…”

Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Russian Federation — Problems and Choices

“…The analysis of data on atmospheric emissions in the former Soviet region is also made more difficult by the fact that published sources refer variously to either total emissions, stationary emissions, or industrial emissions for different years; and it is not altogether clear whether domestic heating or transportation are always counted in these reports. Furthermore, Soviet and Russian techniques and procedures for emissions measurement have differed from those of their Western counterparts (Shahgedanova and Burt, 1994;Kotov and Nikitina, 1996a), thus making for difficulties in international comparisons. The data on annual emissions from stationary sources of SOx and NOx, for example, have been based on the reports of individual industrial enterprises which were verified by officials of the local branches of the State Committee on Hydrometeorology and the Environment (Gidromet); and the data on transport emissions were estimated by the local statistical and /or environmental agencies on the basis of car fleet compositions, and the types and volumes of fuel consumed.…”

“…The data on annual emissions from stationary sources of SOx and NOx, for example, have been based on the reports of individual industrial enterprises which were verified by officials of the local branches of the State Committee on Hydrometeorology and the Environment (Gidromet); and the data on transport emissions were estimated by the local statistical and /or environmental agencies on the basis of car fleet compositions, and the types and volumes of fuel consumed. These data were then summarised by Gidromet, although information was not provided on emissions from non-industrial stationary sources, stationary sources located outside urban areas, and mobile sources other than automobiles (Shahgedanova and Burt, 1994).…”