Air quality in the Federal Republic of Germany

Most of the air pollutant emissions from technical processes stem from combustion processes, as e.g. in power plant, domestic heating systems, or combustion engines. The combustion processes produce oxidation products, products of incomplete combustion, combustion residues, and reaction products of air constituents at the very high combustion temperatures (nitrogen oxides). The paper gives a survey of emission quantities and sources in the Federal Republic of Germany. The survey shows a clear reduction of the typical pollutants contained in flue gas, - sulfur dioxide and dust - since the year 1966. Power plants continue to be the major SO2 emission source. As to organic compounds and nitrogen oxides in particular, primarily emitted by motor vehicles, there is a clear increase to be noted. (orig./KW)