Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

Figure 5.13. 
Confirmed 
and projected sea level 
changes

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88 
ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
different  fuels.  Both  the  combustion  process  and  fuel  quality  can 
significantly  affect  the  intensity  of  pollution.  Coal  combustion 
releases into the atmo sphere about 70% of the total anthropogenic 
emissions. In the Baltic states, the main sources of sulphur dioxide 
are the so-called stationary emission sources or power plants, of 
which the Narva Power Plant (Estonia) complex is the leading one. 
Although  in  the  European  Union  countries  the  total  SO
2 
emission 
levels have considerably decreased in recent decades, they are still 
comparatively high (Figure 5.14).
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
2000
2002
2004
2006
Emission, thousand tons
Electricity and thermal energy production
Industrial production
Crude oil refining
The main anthropogenic source of sulphur dioxide is fossil fuel 
combustion (Figure 5.15).
Electricity and
thermal energy
 production
59%  
Industrial production 8% 
Crude oil refining 7%
Private house heating 6%
Marine transport 2% 
Other sources 18%
Sulphur dioxide is a colourless gas with a very strong, pungent 
odour. It is easily liquefiable and soluble in water, making a medium-
strong  acid  –  sulphurous  acid  (H
2
SO
3
). Sulphur dioxide oxidises 
easily in the atmo sphere, reacts with atmo spheric water vapour, and