STATE OF AIR QUALITY IN GREECE

The present paper analyses the State of Air quality in Greece based on a series of environmental indicators related to state, drivers and pressures. The air quality assessment for the period 2001-2009 refers to population resident in Metropolitan Area of Athens, and there was no clear trend over the reporting period. The limit of 120 mu g/m super(3) for ozone has not been exceeded for 50-70% of population; however, the pattern is not consistent, indicating even up to 100% exceedance more than 25 days in a couple of years. Up to 85% of the resident population was exposed to NO sub(2) annual mean concentrations in the range of the annual indicative target limits, with a few exceptions. Less than 4% of the above urban population was exposed to daily mean PM sub(10) concentrations in excess of the indicative limits set for each year, except for years with high construction activity (up to 30%). There was no exceedance of the EU limit for SO sub(2) daily mean. The share of transport to ozone precursor emissions is currently the highest, followed by energy supply. Energy supply has the highest share in the emissions of acidifying substances and secondary particulate matter. Emissions of paniculate matter and acidifying substances from the transport sector were almost stable between 1990 and 2009, whereas the transport emissions of ozone precursors decreased by 1/3. Although the NOx emissions remained the same, there is a great decrease in CO and NMVOC emissions due to the continuing increase of passenger cars with catalytic converters.