Air pollution - State and impacts (Slovenia)

Concentrations of PM₁₀, especially in some parts of urban areas, exceed the daily limit concentrations of 50 ug/m³ on more than 35 days a year. Identifying the sources of particulates clearly shows that the major contributors are (road) transport, transboundary air pollution and resuspension, and in the winter months road salting, individual heating appliances and unfavourable weather conditions.

PM₁₀ concentrations are generally higher in winter than in summer, in the interior of Slovenia from 70 % to 100 %, and in Primorska up to 20 %. Pollution from PM₁₀ made 2003 an especially troublesome year, mainly owing to the long drought and low rainfall. At that time, as much as 90 % of the urban population of Slovenia was exposed to more than 100 days daily PM₁₀ concentrations above the limit, Maribor – 185 days; Celje – 146 days; Zagorje – 140 days; and Ljubljana – 116 days. Since 2003, daily concentrations have fallen, but limit values are still exceeded from time to time. Particular mention should be made of the Zasavje region, a poorly ventilated basin with the highest number of excessive readings a year – in 2008 more than 100. This results from transport and industrial sources as well as the unfavourable basin geography that causes unfavourable temperature inversions, particularly in winter (ZR08, in Slovene only).