Air quality

  What is the general situation with the air quality?

Comparison of annual average concentration by different air pollutants during the last 15 years (1984-1998) show that for most substances (total PM, NO₂, CO, Phenol) there is a tendency for decrease. However, total PM (dust, as it was determined by the Soviet standards) and Formaldehyde still remain very high concentration and many times exceed any permissible level: either former Soviet, and currently Georgian MPC (Maximum Permissible Concentration), or WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) and special EC limit (see pollution dynamics ). Very strange seems situation with SO₂ measure. Main source for sulphur dioxide emission during the early 80s was district heating system and Tbilisi Electro Central (TEC - small power plant). Since 1990 the district heating system does not operate any more and TEC has drastically reduced its capacity. However, the value of SO₂ concentration in 1998 reached the 1986 level, when industry and heating system in Tbilisi were on a full steam. The Hydromet staff believes that changing on measurement method that was conducted earlier and is experienced now may cause this confusion. Anyway, by annual average concentration sulphur dioxide exceeds MPC, as well as WHO/AQG and EC limit almost by 3.5 times.

The air monitoring points within the city are arranged out of any proportion to the city's size and complex topography. Information obtained there does not reveal the actual spatial distribution of different pollutants. Nevertheless, we (the GRID-Tbilisi) tried to divide area in such manner that each monitoring point would suit a certain part of Tbilisi. For this purpose the morphological character of the territory, height of mountains, direction of ranges, position and distance from the polluting sources, major wind direction and wind speed, etc. were taken into account. In most cases the border between two districts goes along the range, river depression or dry ravine. Therefore, almost every district differs in some respect (microclimate, microforms of relief, level of industrialisation, etc.). However, it was very difficult to separate the city centre and surrounding area, since there are only few monitoring points, and streets are very narrow and buildings are located too close to each other.

As a result, the following seven districts were figured out for determining spatial distribution of air pollutants within the official city limit: Avchala-Gldani (industrial and residential area, with multi-storey apartment houses); Digomi-Nutsubidze Hill (multi-storey apartment blocks, with less intensive traffic); Grmagele-Temka (industrial area with multi-storey apartment houses and intensive traffic); Didube (industrial area with multi-storey apartment houses and very intensive traffic); Central District: Saburtalo, Vake, Mtatsminda, Rustaveli Av., Agmashenebeli Av., etc. (downtown and historical part of city with one-to-five storey houses, mostly for residence and various offices, with extremely intensive traffic); Ortachala - Avlabari (one-to-five storey and small private houses, with very intensive traffic); Navtlugi-Soganlugi (industrial area with combined multi-storey apartment buildings and small private houses, with intensive traffic).

It can be seen from the pollution maps that most harmful situation exists in the city centre (downtown and historic zone), as well as in Didube and Ortachala-Avlabari districts, where majority of the population live and work.

The area under the study also includes some special, mostly agricultural and recreational territories beyond the official city limits. It is almost impossible to determine accurately air quality of this area. We can only mention that air quality on right side ranges (recreation zone: Mtsatsminda, Tabori, Teleti, Trialeti, Saguramo ranges, etc.) is quite satisfactory, as well as on green spots around the Tbilisi Water Reservoir (see map of Land Use Types ). Other non-urban sectors close to the city (Samgory Valley, area around the Tbilisi airport, etc.) are less protected from the influence of industrial and traffic pollution, or Southeast wind penetration.

	Chapter Navigation
	Introduction State Pressure Impact
	Action
	- What you can do!
	Indicators
	- CEROI core set   - In this report
	More In...
	- Air quality monitoring - Orographic scheme - Pollution dynamics - Pollution mapping