| dc.description.abstract | An Expert Group on Studies of Local Air Pollution Problems was established in 1988. The group, which is working under the Joint Norwegian-Russian Commission on Environmental Co-operation, has been responsible for a joint monitoring and evaluation programme in the border areas of the two countries. Scientists from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) and from the Institute of Northern Ecological Problems (INEP) at the Kola Science Centre, have been responsible for the intercalibration, data collection, modelling and evaluation.
The air pollution in the border areas are dominated by episodes linked to adverse meteorological conditions. During these episodes the concentrations of SO2 have exceeded national and international guideline values by a factor of ten at distances of up to 30 km from the smelter industries in Nike! and Zapoljarnij. These smelters represent the main sources of air pollution in the area.
The deposition of the heavy metals Ni and Cu also exceeded background values by a factor of ten or more within the first 10-30 km from the smelters. The annual average emissions of sulphur have been reduced by about 40% at Nikel from 1982 to 1992. The result of this can also be seen in average SO2 concentration levels. The injuries on vegetation have been shown to correlate well with SO2 concentrations.
The annual average emissions of sulphur have been reduced by about 40% at Nikel from 1982 to 1992. The result of this can also be seen in average SO2 concentration levels. The injuries on vegetation have been shown to correlate well with SO2 concentrations | |
