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Institute of Environmental Studies
Q.Stafa Str. No. 130 Tirana, Albania
E-mail: agrondeliu@yahoo.com
Tirana, 28.02.2004
Air Quality in Albania
A .Deliu, M. Ndroqi
Contents
Page
Table 1. Deposited dust in some Albanian cities
Table 2.Consume of fossil fuels in Albania 1970-98, (x 1000 tons oil equivalent) and
SO2 discharged from them
Table 3. Emissions of the main air pollutants in Albania, period 1970 – 98, (thousand
tons)
Table 4. Discharges of CO2 in Albania from fossil fuel burning
Table 5. SPM, black soot and SO2 in the air of some Albanian towns 1976-80
Table 6.Black soot (BS) and SO2 in the air of Tirana city centre 1981-90, µg/m3
Table 7. Year 2001, air quality monitoring in Albania
Table 8. Year 2002, air quality monitoring in Albania
Table 9. Year 2003, air quality monitoring in Albania
Table 10. PM 10 content in the air of Albanian towns, 2001-2003 period
Table 11. Contemporary measurement of SPM, PM 10 and PM 2.5 in Tirana air
(year 2002).
Table 12. Average two week results for PM and NO2 (year 2003)
Table 13. Fast increase of vehicle numbers in Albania, period 1990-2002
Tabela 14. Total air emissions from vehicles in Albania, in thousand tons
Table 15. Yearly vehicle emissions in Tirana air, 2000
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Tirana, 28.02.2004
Air Quality in Albania
A .Deliu, M. Ndroqi
We are giving below some basic tables and graphs on the deposited dust, smoke and sulphur
dioxide content in the urban air of Albania, beginning with 1976 year when first measurements were
done.
Tab1e 1.
Deposited dust in some Albanian cities
Year 1977
mg/m2/day ton/km2/year
Tirana
Fieri
Elbasani
Korça
249
156
---
Year 1998______
mg/m2/day ton/km2/year
91
57
---
Yearly allowable limit
380
150
327
112
139
55
119
41
200
73
Ref.: (1) Faktoret meteorologjike dhe problemet e ruajtjes se ambjentit natyrior; Ivzi Dautaj:Akademia e
Shkencave e Shqiperise - Konferenca Shkencore per Problemet e ruajtjes se Ambientit Natyror, f.271-75,
Tirane 1981.
(2) Raport per gjendjen e mjedisit 1997-1998, f.86, Agjensia Kombetare e Mjedisit, Tirane 1999.
1998
Year
Limit
Korça
Elbasani
1977
Fieri
Tirana
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
mg/m2/day
Up to 1990 year industry had been the main air pollutant of the country. As seen from the table 2,
after that period the consume of fossil fuels decreased sharply, with a resulting decrease in SO2
emissions in the atmospheric air.
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Table 2.
Consume of fosil fuels in Albania 1970-98,
(x 1000 tons oil equivalent) and SO2 discharged from them
Year
Coals
Gas
Oil
Total
Consume
1970
1980
299
106
860
1265
0.6
607
322
918
2847
1.1
1989
1998
1307 541
879 185
1114 964
3300 1690
1.1
0.65
Consume/ inhab. in East Europe for fossil
fuels in 1991 year has been as follows:
Turkey - 0.9, Romania - 2.6,
Greece - 2.7,Germany-4.4,
Russia - 6.1,Luksemburgu - 9.3
/inhab./ year (ton oil equivalent )
SO2
177
(thous. ton/year
SO2
100
(kg/inhab./year)
400
462
237
160
150
90
Discharge/ inhab. in Europe for
SO2 in 1991 year has been as follows:
Turkey- 36, Romania - 104,
Greece-102, Germany-176,
Russia - 244, Luksemburgu - 372
Source: Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), Tirana 2001.
Albania
Luksemburg
Russia
Germany
Fossil fuel
SO2
Greece
Romania
Turkey
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
kg/inhab./year
The same is valid in principle for the other important air pollutants, like particles, NOx, CO
and HC. This is shown in table 3 below.
Table 3. Emissionf of the main air pollutants in Albania, period 1970 - 98
(Thousand tons)
Year
1970
1989
1998
Particles
SO2
NOx
CO
81.5
177.1
2.5
1.2
349.2
462
6.6
3.3
145.4
236.5
19.3
31.7
4
HC
TOTAL
0.5
262.8
1.6
822.7
17.9
450.8
Source: Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), Tirana, 2001
900
800
Particles
SO2
NOx
700
CO
HC
600
Total
Traffic
500
Thousand tons
400
300
200
100
0
1970
1989
Year
1998
In the table 4 is given the situation regarding discharges of CO2 in Albania from fossil fuel
burning, which represents also the approximate share of the country in climatic change of
the world.
Table 4.
Discharges of CO2 in Albania from fossil fuel burning
Quantity / Year
Total CO2, milion tons/year
Discharge CO2/inhab. tons/year
1950
0.07
0.06
1960
1.02
0.63
1970 1980 1990
3.42 9.68 9.74
1.60 3.62 3.00
2000
8-8.5
2.75
Reference: 1) Environment Today, Dr. Trisha Greenhalgh, f. 101, London 1994;2)Statistical compendium for the
Dobris Assessment, f. 206-8, ECSC-EC-EAEC, Luxembourg 1995; 3) Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), Tirana
2001.
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CO2 discharges from fossil fuels burning
Albania
India
Brazili
Kina
Meksika
Tons CO2/10 000 USDGDP (year
1987)
South Korea
Tons CO2/inh.
France
Japoni
Angli
Germany
Poloni
Soviet Union
Çeki
USA
Australi
Kanada
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
In the table 5 below are given the average concentrations of SPM, soot and SO 2 in the
urban atmospheres of cities and towns of Albania, from 1976 - 1980.It is clear that industrial
cities/towns were the most polluted ones (Rubik and Laç for SO 2 , Fieri and Tirana for soot).
Table 5. SPM, black soot and SO2 in the air of some Albanian towns 1976-80
(µg/m3)
Town
Rubik
Laç
Durres
Berat
Kuçove
Elbasan
Korçe
Fier
Vlore
Tirane
Norma
SPM
186
212
268
500
Soot
22
24
15
16
22
31
20
96
35
67
50
Source: Institute of Public Health (IPH), Tirana 2000.
SO2
456
272
46
14
48
51
50
19
43
30
150
6
Periudha 1976-80
600
Rubik
Laç
500
Durres
400
Berat
Kuçove
µg/m3 300
Elbasan
Korçe
200
Fier
Vlore
100
Tirane
0
Limit
SPM
Black smoke
SO2
The decade 1980-90 is characterised by industrial
pollution as the main factor in air
pollution of the country. Apart of it, burning of fossil fuels has been of very poor efficiency, as
indicated from the datas of smoke (BS) and SO 2 concentrations in the air of Tirana centre
in the table 6 below.
Table 6. Black soot (BS) and SO2 in the air of Tirana city centre 1981-90, µg/m3
Year
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1987
1988
1989
1990
Average
Allowable. limit
BS
83
38
89
38
88
53
62
77
64
70
50
SO2
21
10
26
25
24
23
14
20
15
18
150
Ratio BS/SO2
3.9
3.8
3.2
1.5
3.7
2.3
4.4
3.8
4.3
3.88
1*
* Recommended value
Source: : Institute of Public Health (IPH), Tirana 2000.
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Results for BS and SO2 in Tirana air ,µg/m3, 1976-94.
Allow. limit
Average
1993
1991
1989
Black smoke
SO2
1986
1984
1982
1978
1976
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
µg / m3
We have already re-began the air quality monitoring in the second half of year 2000 in 7
cities of the country, after 2-3 years of interruption, adding gradually in the list of pollutants
PM 10, ozone and Pb. Here below are given the average results for year 2001, 2002 and
2003 (table 7, 8 and 9).
Table 7. Year 2001
SPM
PM 10
Soot
SO2
NO2
Tirana 1
Tirana 2
Tirana 3
Tirana 4
Tirana 5
Durresi
Elbasani
Fieri
Korça
Shkodra
Vlora
345
222
117
189
173
82
231
141
96
54
29
17
17
56
33
35
16
51
14
30
21
24
7
10.1.
24
WHO guidelines
150
Table 8. Year 2002
SPM
178
250
279
254
173
201
243
O3
91
113
133
131
53
92
119
17
25
27
7
14
15
44
27
18
67
12
20
23
25
6.2.
11.3.
22
80
50
50
40
120
PM10
SO2
NO2
O3
Pb
115
160
8
Durresi
Elbasani
Fieri
Korca
Shkodra
Vlora
Tirana 1
Tirana 2
Tirana 3
Tirana 4
Tirana 5
WHO guide lines
(1999)
272
366
258
155
222
152
304
233
145
683
174
120
124
175
109
70
101
70
147
99
65
360
85
70
17
38
21
14
20
14
21
18
17
25
16
50
27
33
26
21
33
21
36
28
24
61
58
40
66
57
51
59
47
60
68
60
45
89
69
120
0.473
0.157
0.226
0.16
0.378
0.242
0.083
0.057
0.08
0.101
0.104
0.5
Table 9. Year 2003
Tirana 1
Tirana 2
Tirana 3
Tirana 4
Tirana 5
Durresi
Elbasani 1
Elbasani 2
SPM
286
226
126
995
215
200
266
416
PM10
119
105
70
483
98
92
117
203
SO2
16
14
13
20
10
12
19
43
NO2
37
30
20
48
20
17
25
73
O3
95
100
91
110
110
96
96
Pb
0,13
0,155
0,12
0,195
0,25
0,28
0,21
0,3
Fieri
Korca
Shkodra
Vlora
Albanian
standards
(year
2003)
232
147
224
144
140
107
67
99
63
60
19
8
9
10
60
23
12
14
16
60
91
87
85
92
120
0,2
0,066
0,22
0,19
1
Points
Population Type of the
Durresi
Elbasani
Fieri
Korca
Shkodra
Vlora
Tirana 1
Tirana 2
Tirana 3
Tirana 4
Tirana 5
monitoring point
0.25 mln. Urban, centre
0.20 “
Urban, centre
0.15 “
Urban, centre
0.07 “
Urban, centre
0.10 “
Urban, centre
0.15 “
Urban, centre
0.70 “
Urban, centre
Urban, 0.3 km E, residential
Urban, 3 km E, residential
Urban, 2 km W,kerbside
Urban, 2 km S, residential
Height of the
monitoring point
10
10
10
6
3
6
10
10
12
3
6
Days of Air
Monitoring
164
152
146
162
146
148
179
152
158
150
147
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It is clear now, especially from the results of air monitoring in year 2002 and 2003, which can
be considered more reliable in methodology (12 days/month), that Albania is facing a new
situation of pollutants content in its urban air. SPM and PM 10 are dangerously above the
WHO guide lines and new Albanian standard values almost everywhere, and a remarkable
increase belongs to NO2 and O3 content, due to fast increase of vehicle fleet of the country.
600
500
400
PM 10 -01
PM 10-02
PM 10-03
300
200
100
.st
an
d.
WH
O
Alb
Vlo
ra
ko
dra
rça
Sh
Ko
Fie
ri
Du
rre
si
Elb
as
an
i1
Elb
as
an
i2
Tir
an
a1
Tir
an
a2
Tir
an
a3
Tir
an
a4
Tir
an
a5
0
Table 10. PM 10 content in the air of Albanian towns, 2001-2003 period.
The tendency of the Pb content in the urban air will be clear after some other years of
relevant monitoring.
We have began on 2002 year to measure PM 2.5 content in the air of Tirana (two cases),
alongside with contemporary measurements of SPM and PM 10. In the framework of a joint
small project with WHO we have conducted in two points in Tirana and Durres SPM, PM 10 and
PM 2.5 two week measurements during 2003 years .
The results are as follows (in
micrograms/m3):
Table 11. Contemporary measurement of SPM, PM 10 and PM 2.5 in Tirana air (year 2002).
Tirana 3 (23-29.07.2002)
Site 1: (h = 15 m)
SPM = 103
PM 10 = 45
PM 2.5 = 34
Site 2: (h = 3 m)
Table 12. Average 2 weeks results for
PM and NO2
Site
SPM
PM 10
PM 2.5
Tirana 1
265
120
80
Tirana 4
868
398
240
Durres 1
219
105
68
Albanian
140
60
15
Standard
SPM = 192
(year
2003)
NO2
36
56
18
60
PM 10 = 92
PM 2.5 = 54
10
900
Tirana 1
800
Tirana 4
700
Durres 1
600
Albanian Standard
500
400
300
200
100
0
STP
PM 10
PM 2.5
NO2
Last decade the traffic air pollution is the main contributor of pollutants in the urban air
of the country. Till 1990 year the vehicle fleet in Albania had been very small. Last decade it
was enlarged fastly, especially in Tirana-Durres region where are now in circulation about
half of the general number of the country. Accordingly, vehicle air pollution is now the
main one for Albania (table 13 and 14).
Table 13. Fast increase of vehicle numbers in Albania, period 1990-2002.
160000
Cars
140000
Lorries
Buses
120000
Other
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
Tabela 14. Total air emissions from vehicles in Albania, in thousand tons
Year
1989
2002
Particles
0.6
23.6
Main data
Year 1989 - 20 000 vehicles
Year 2002 - ca 236 000 "
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SO2
NOx
CO
HC
0.4
0.8
1.5
0.9
15.0
30.1
56.4
32.0
TOTAL
4.2
157.1
83% diesel, 17% gasoline
Average age of vehicle fleet:
90% > 9 years, 6% < 4 years,
4% < 2 years.
Source: Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), Tirana 2003
Table 15.
Yearly vehicle emissions in Tirana air, 2000
Particles
2250 ton
Total amount of ca 35 thousand tons/year
SO2
2120 ton
of air pollutants emitted in Tirana from vehicle
NOx
10750 ton
traffic now, is equivalent with
CO
7150 ton
49 kg/inhabitant,
HC
12450 ton
in comparison with 30 kg/inhabitant released
Pb
11 ton
totally on 1989 from overall activity of the city
TOTAL
34731 ton
(industry + traffic + communal heating).
Source: Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), Tirana 2001
From the material presented above is evident that vehicles, in particular those that are in
use in Albania, have substituted completely the industrial plants of pre-1990 period, in the
air polluting concept. We have to accept that the country is facing now a more complex
and dangerous air pollution than 15 years ago, for the fact that the emission heights of
the vehicle discharges are at the breathing level of the man, and the quantitative level of
pollutants is much more higher that the normal one, due to the old age of the vehicle
fleet. Percentage of diesel vehicles in the fleet is appr. 85 percent, what makes another
disturbance in air quality concept, due to increased discharges of fine particles.
Moreover, vehicle air pollution in Albania is still legally un-controlled, and the expected
trend is further deterioration of urban air quality, due to massive import of old used cars.
In this context, we face a difficult position as specialists of air monitoring and management in
Albania. The environmental monitoring law, brand new in Albania, is not giving any
regulations regarding time periods necessary for a given monitoring (air, water, etc). We
lack financial means for having new equipments in order to increase monitoring sites (at least
5 others for capital Tirana, and 6 others for the other six main cities of the country).We don’t
have any automatic station in use. We have to approach 274 days/year of air monitoring in
these sites, out of 140-150 now. We are in need also for regular technical trainings and
joint programs with respective organisations in Europe, apart of intercalibration exercises.
Any assistance in these aspects will be of great importance for the correct implementation of
our technical duties and for correct legal interventions in the future.
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