Evaluation of long-term temporal variations in Hungarian PM10 and PM2.5 emissions based on national inventories applied for air quality management

Accession to the European Union has resulted in a remarkable step forward in air quality protection in Hungary. At present, particulate matter means the most significant environmental health risk, and it is Hungary’s most problematic pollutant: its concentration exceeds the EU limit values for longer periods under certain conditions. It is presented how the rates and contributors of the PM10 and PM2.5 emissions varied in Hungary during the two decades of the 2000-2021 period. Special attention is paid to the residential combustion sector which is a key category in particulate matter emissions. Price elasticity of demand of natural gas and other fuels are investigated together with the latest comprehensive population census on conventional stoves and boilers used in the Hungarian households to determine the possible measures that could be taken to improve and change the residential heating habits.