Particulate emission inventory and trends in ambient particulate matter concentrations in the Czech Republic between 1993 and 1999

Trends in total suspended particulates (TSP) emissioninventories were compared with ambient TSP concentrationsduring the period of 1993-1999 in the Czech Republic. TheTSP annual emission decreased within the period of observationfrom 441 300 to 67 000 of metric tonnes (by 85%). During thesame period a less pronounced downward trend from80.3 g m^-3 to 31.5g m^-3 (decrease by 61%)was noted also for the ambient TSP annual average. Differencebetween the two air quality indicators seems to indicate thatchanges in TSP emission inventories from year to year arebeing to some extent overestimated. Monthly ambientparticulate concentrations did not respond to overall drop inemissions proportionately but were closely associated withmonthly mean temperatures. While in the winter the correlationbetween ambient TSP and temperature was negative, in summerthe correlation between the two variables was positive. Inspring and autumn there was no clear correlation betweentemperature and ambient particulate pollution. The improvementof air quality in the Czech Republic since the economical andpolitical transformation in 1990s is substantial whendemonstrated by emission figures, however, true state ofparticulate pollution expressed by ambient levels requiresfurther attention.