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ŠTERBENK, E., PAVŠEK, Z., KOTNIK, K., DRUKS GAJŠEK, P.
EVALUATION OF PM10 CONCENTRATIONS IN AMBIENT AIR IN VELENJE AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF MONITORING
KOMUNALNA ENERGETIKA / POWER ENGINERING, 12
Since autumn 2011 PM10 concentrations in ambient air are being monitored in Velenje within the Slovenian state network. Year-round data are available only for 2012; compared with data from other Slovenian towns Velenje is the least polluted among them. The annual average concentrations in Velenje are comparable with both stations in Ljubljana, as well as with stations in Koper, Nova Gorica and Hrastnik. In all these towns except Hrastnik, there are almost twice as many days on which the acceptable daily limits are exceeded than in Velenje. Lower values than in Velenje were recorded only at the control station in the Kočevsko area (Iskrba). PM10 concentrations were also measured within the Environmental Information System of the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant (ŠTPP) in Šoštanj, Škale, Pesje and the mobile station at the Unit 6 site by the EIMV Company. Allowable concentrations were not exceeded in 2012 on any of these locations and the average annual values were similar to those in Velenje. This favourable situation mainly results from district heating of households in the valley. If homes and other buildings, which are district heated, were to be individually heated, total PM10 emissions into the temperature inversion layer would be higher than emissions from the ŠTPP. Around 200 tons of particulate matter is released into the atmosphere annually from the ŠTTP and about 80% of this mass represents PM10. A third of the Slovenian electricity and heat for heating buildings, as well as heat for industrial processes in the Šalek valley are produced by the ŠTTP at the same time.
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