Air pollution and strong odour episodes have been, for many years, among the most persistent issues reported by the citizens of Ploiești.

The phenomenon occurs mostly in the evening and at night, affects entire neighbourhoods and has direct consequences on the quality of life and health of Ploiești residents. The persistent and pungent odours recurrently reported by Ploiești residents are those of sulphur and/or petroleum products. For years, the press releases of Garda de Mediu Prahova (Prahova Environmental Guard) have downplayed the scale of the phenomenon and have drawn the general dissatisfaction of the community.
 
 In the absence of convincing institutional responses from Garda de Mediu Prahova (Prahova Environmental Guard) and APM Prahova (Prahova Environmental Protection Agency), Primăria Ploiești (Ploiești City Hall) has centralised the exceedances of the maximum admissible concentrations for hydrogen sulphide and PM10, as well as the critical values reached for volatile organic compounds – benzene, toluene and xylenes (the so-called BTEX group) for the period                         1 January – 12 November 2025, based on data reported by industrial operators and APM Prahova (see attached data for each month).

●        By 12 November, that is over 322 days,  a total of 1,211 episodes of exceedances (for H2S and PM10) or critical values (for benzene, toluene and xylenes) over 30-minute intervals were reported, with peaks in February and August; 

●    Of the 1,211 episodes, 439 were for H₂S, 117 for PM10, 1 for ozone, 6 for SO₂ (exceedances), while 240 were for benzene, 309 for toluene and 93 for xylenes (critical values).

The analysis confirms, with official data, what citizens frequently feel in the city: repeated episodes of olfactory discomfort, correlated with industrial indicators such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and volatile organic compounds (BTEX):

●       We also identified exceedances of more than 7-8 times the maximum admissible concentration (e.g.: H2S on 2 November 2025 at 12 midnight or H2S on 3 November at 7:30 in the morning);

●    In the case of compounds in the BTEX group, we are speaking of critical values, instead of defining them as exceedances, because Romanian legislation is unclear, limited or non-existent regarding them. We have referred the measured values to international standards, and they are at the very least critical for human health;

●        The exceedances and critical values appear predominantly in the evening and at night, exactly during the intervals when citizens report the strong odour and when inspections are non-existent;

●       Compared with this huge number of incidents, the actions and measures taken by Garda de Mediu Prahova are insufficient and unconvincing;

●       The largest fine in 2025 (of approximately 50,000 euros) issued by Garda de Mediu Prahova was against Primăria Ploiești, on the pretext that the grass had been destroyed over a few hundred square metres because of the Ploiești residents who walked on it during community events organised by the City Hall during the summer (the grass, today, is perfect and has regenerated naturally, and the City Hall has sued Garda de Mediu Prahova). By contrast, the largest fine issued to an industrial polluter in 2025 amounts to 20,000 euros; 

●       The total amount of fines issued to major polluters is just over 300,000 euros, of which only a quarter has been paid because the law allows it;

●       Many of the episodes felt by Ploiești residents cannot be classified legally, not because there is no pollution, but because the legislation has no thresholds for short periods, while the World Health Organization explicitly recommends them.

The data analysis demonstrates that Ploiești is facing a real phenomenon of pollution and olfactory discomfort, repeated throughout the year. While Ploiești residents directly experience these episodes, the responsible institutions do not fully fulfil their duty, and the legislation in force does not provide the necessary instruments for the proper assessment and sanctioning of the responsible compounds.

The lack of limit values for toluene and xylenes, the application of only an annual limit for benzene, and the overly permissive thresholds for H₂S represent major vulnerabilities of the current legislative framework, insufficient for the protection of public health in a city with a complex industrial profile.

Technical aspects regarding the analysed indicators

1. Benzene
●        It is the only compound in the BTEX group with a limit value in Romanian legislation: 5 μg/m³ – annual average. States such as France set stricter targets of 2 μg/m³, and the new European Directive on air quality discusses lowering the values to 3.4 and even 1.7 μg/m³.

●        In Ploiești, very high values were recorded over 30-minute intervals, such as 73 μg/m³ (16.08.2025, at 05:00).

●        The World Health Organization specifies that there is no safe threshold for benzene, as it is carcinogenic.

2. Toluene
●        There is no limit value for ambient air in Romanian legislation.

●        The WHO recommends 260 μg/m³ – weekly average to protect against neurological effects. Several European countries use guideline values of 100-300 μg/m³ for long-term exposures, and some standards establish thresholds of 600 μg/m³ for 24 hours to avoid acute high-exposure episodes.

●        Romania does not have a national threshold for this indicator.

3. Xylenes (m, p, o)
 ●       In Europe, where ambient air values for xylene exist, they are usually around 200 μg/m³ as a 24-hour limit.

●        In Ploiești, point values are reported, but without a legal framework for classifying them.

4. Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S)
●        Romania: 15 μg/m³ (30-min average), 8 μg/m³ (24 h).

●        WHO: 7 μg/m³ (30 min) in order not to affect human health. 

●        The Romanian thresholds are more permissive, which explains why citizens feel an intense odour even „within legal limits”.

What Primăria Ploiești is doing to increase transparency, air quality and the protection of citizens

1. The City Hall is currently running the procurement procedure for the implementation of an integrated digital system, which will allow:

●     the real-time collection of data transmitted by industrial operators to APM;

●     the automatic centralisation of all relevant indicators;

●     the transparent publication of values, in a format accessible to citizens;

●     the continuous monitoring of indicators with olfactory impact: H₂S, benzene, toluene, xylene.

This system will enable faster responses, immediate public information and a heightened level of accountability for industrial operators. To achieve this, we have asked the Ministry to amend the legislation.

1. The City Hall is running a procedure for the procurement of a 40MW cogeneration engine unit for the Ploiești district heating system, with a view to reducing gas consumption and CO2 emissions.
2. Measures that contribute directly to reducing pollution in the long term. Although these are not directly related to industrial pollution, they reflect a strategic direction towards reducing local pollution sources, improving the quality of life.

●       Modernisation of public transport – 20 new, non-polluting trams – obligation set out in the Integrated Air Quality Plan;

●        Expansion of green spaces through urban regeneration and the development of new parks.

 Requests of Primăria Ploiești

1. The urgent establishment of national limit values for toluene and xylene, in accordance with WHO recommendations.
2. The revision of the limit for benzene and its alignment with the new European standards under consultation, as well as the introduction of legal limits for shorter periods of time as well.
3. The adjustment of thresholds for H₂S, so that they comply with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
4. The expansion of the monitoring network and verification of their locations, so that the positioning of sensors is correct, representative, and does not allow real values to be evaded or distorted.
5. The intensification of unannounced inspections, including during evening and night intervals, when the most episodes are reported.
6. A strengthened framework for genuine institutional cooperation, in line with the directions established at the meeting of 19 November between Instituția Prefectului – Județul Prahova (Prefect’s Institution – Prahova County), Garda Națională de Mediu (National Environmental Guard), Agenția pentru Protecția Mediului (Environmental Protection Agency), Direcția de Sănătate Publică (Public Health Directorate), Primăria municipiului Ploiești (Ploiești City Hall).