EMISSIONS OF MAJOR AIR POLLUTANTS AS AN INDICATOR OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN POLAND IN 1990-2017

Abstract

In recent deliberations on the quality of life, the air quality that man breathes plays a significant role. It is beyond dispute that since 1990, Poland has been a period of making up for many years of neglect of the natural environment. The study aimed to check whether the measures taken to reduce pollutants’ emissions into the atmosphere were effective and to what extent it was possible to improve its condition and improve the environmental quality of life of Polish society in this area. The index of emission of the main air pollutants was used (this group includes: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon oxide and dioxide, non-metallic volatile organic compounds, ammonia and particulates) to achieve the assumed objective. Using the statistical data available in the yearbooks Environment, an analysis of these compounds’ emissions was carried out. The study used the descriptive, statistical
and analytical method. The analysis showed that over the period analysed, emissions of the main air pollutants had decreased significantly in most cases, which has undoubtedly contributed to improving the environmental quality of life.