Correlation of Ambient Air Quality with the Sudden Reduction in Mining Activity in a Complex of Lignite Mines

Under the pressure of competition, primarily caused by high price carbon dioxide emission allowances, lignite production in Western Macedonia Lignite Centre dramatically reduced last decade. This development affects ambient air quality greater mine area, as evidenced reducing particulate matter concentrations and number exceedances daily average per year. Moreover, differences measurements monitoring stations, with regard to their distance from mining activities, now tend be minimized. Based on these facts, it can predicted that, after phase-out electricity generation will reach levels that are typical for rural areas Northern Greece well before end mines’ land reclamation programs.