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Emissions of air pollutants derive from almost all economic and societal activities. Due to the concentration of crude oil processing activities around Ploiesti city, which is an urban agglomeration of Romania, this area was carefully monitored regarding air pollutants concentrations. The aim of this work was the characterization of air quality in the city of Ploiesti, affected by industrial and traffic pollution, the analysis of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations collected from a continuous monitoring system and the identifi cation of some relationships between air pollution and meteorological parameters in the studied area. Descriptive statistics was applied to analyze the time series of air pollutants monitored by an automated monitoring network composed by six stations, in order to establish the relationship between air pollutants and important weather factors. Data were measured in Ploiesti urban area between November 2011 and March 2012. The statistical models indicated that weather variables such as temperature and relative humidity had significant impact on the most air pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last twenty-five years European emission data have been compiled and reported under the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) as part of the work under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). This paper presents emission trends of SO2 reported to EMEP and validated within the programme for the period 1980-2004. These European anthropogenic sulphur emissions have been steadily decreasing over the last twenty-five years, amounting from about 55 Tg SO2 in 1980 to 15 Tg SO2 in 2004. The uncertainty in sulphur emission estimates for individual countries and years are documented to range between 3% and 25%. The relative contribution of European emissions to global anthropogenic sulphur emissions has been halved during this period. Based on annual emission reports from European countries, three emission reduction regimes have been identified. The period 1980-1989 is characterized by low annual emission reductions (below 5% reduction per year and 20% for the whole period) and is dominated by emission reductions in Western Europe. The period 1990-1999 is characterised by high annual emission reductions (up to 11% reduction per year and 54% for the whole period), most pronounced in Central and Eastern Europe. The annual emission reductions in the period 2000-2004 are medium to low (below 6% reduction per year and 17% for the whole period) and reflect the unified Europe, with equally large reductions in both East and West. The sulphur emission reduction has been largest in the sector Combustion in energy and transformation industries, but substantial decreases are also seen in the Non-industrial combustion plants together with the sectors Industrial combustion and Industrial production processes. The majority of European countries have reduced their emissions by more than 60% between 1990 and 2004, and one quarter have already achieved sulphur emission reductions higher than 80%. At European level, the total sulphur target for 2010 set in the Gothenburg Protocol (16 Tg) has apparently already been met by 2004. However, still half of the Parties to the Gothenburg Protocol have to reduce further their sulphur emissions in order to attain their individual country total emission targets for 2010. It is also noteworthy that, contrasting the Gothenburg Protocol requirements, a growing number of countries have recently been reporting increasing sulphur emissions, while others report only minor further decreases. The emission trends presented here are supported by different studies of air concentrations and depositions carried out within and outside the framework of the LRTAP Convention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineers at a European power station''s FGD plant wanted to reduce SO2 emissions at the same time as maintaining consistent site efficiency. Installing two large motors to drive a booster fan and an absorber recirculation pump helped them ensure that the station''s reputation for environmental responsibility was upheld. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on the problem concerning the increased emissions of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide released by large combustion plants (LCP) in Europe. The state's Environment Agency stresses that the implementation of best practices that meets the emission standards in the LCP Directive will help reduce the emission of pollutants that contribute to air pollution. The agency stresses that LCPs release 70 percent of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions, which is considered as the country's leading contributor of air pollution, and are included in the list of the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER).

Discusses issues concerning the control of gas emissions from power plant facilities. Regulatory approaches taken to reduce emissions in Europe and the U.S.; Site-specific factors to consider in mitigating gas emission; Technologies available for controlling sulfur dioxide emissions; Advantages of the FLOWPAC system used in removing sulfur dioxide.