Air pollution in the Western-border region of Hungary - the Ombudsman's inquiries in Szentgotthárd and its area

Press release

Air pollution in the Western-border region of Hungary - the Ombudsman's inquiries in Szentgotthárd and its area

Despite that environmental and health circumstances raise serious concerns the competent authorities fulfill only in part their obligation of performing air-quality control in Vas and Zala counties. The Ombudsman finds that right to health of people living there is at risk.

The documentation on the assessment of environmental impact of the Heiligenkreuz (Austria) waste-incineration plant designed to be built at the Hungarian border contained information and data that made necessary an independent inquiry of the ombudsman. According to a survey made between 2000 and 2004 and sent to the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, mortality of men living in the area of Szentgotthárd is four times higher than the national average due to respiratory diseases. Among women aged 15-64 number of deaths due to cancer is nearly 35% higher than national average.

In his report Máté Szabó ombudsman found that despite alarming environmental- health indicators, the competent inspectorate of the Hungarian Air Quality Network (Országos Légszennyezettségi Szolgálat-OLM)) operated by the Ministry of Rural Development only partially fulfilled its testing obligations in Vas and Zala counties, which violates the right to a healthy environment and the right to physical and mental health of the inhabitants. In the absence of tests and data on main pollutants, air pollution zones can not be marked and efficient measures for improving air quality and air-health conditions can not be determined. According to the information and data sent to the commissioner dust and ozone levels are high also in the air at the Austrian border.

Máté Szabó asked the Minister for Rural Development and the director of the competent inspectorate to ensure the fulfillment of air-test obligations and the disclosure of testing data on the website of the Network/ OLM. The ombudsman has also suggested the minister to initiate co-operation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Austria to harmonize measures for air-quality improvement.