Historical Impacts On The Greek Environment

Hatzibalassi Eva, Tsoukalis Anestis, Oreopoulou Hara

Forest Fires

• In the summer of 2008 Greece suffered heavily from forest fires caused by arson which stripped the country, and especially Peloponnese, of a significant proportion of its forest.

Air pollution after World War II

• Over the course of many years, pollution has become a major problem in Greece. Since World War II, where there were an increase of industrial activities, motor vehicles, and foreign tourists, Greece’s natural environment has been severely threatened.

• The reason for the heavily polluted area in Greece is partly due to the fact that there is no nuclear plan to the reconstruction activities that began after World War II.

• The Greek government did not create strategic plans such that the reconstruction areas would be in safe distance from the areas where people live.

Delayed and late impact of the Chernobyl accident on the Greek environment

The impact of the Chernobyl nuclear accident on the Greek environment during and after the winter 1986-87 and the estimated long-term doses to the population are discussed. This includes the delayed peak of caesium concentrations observed in animal products, the contamination of pastry and bread, the additional external exposure in areas of peak caesium deposition, the soil-to-plant transfer of caesium, the contamination of marine and lake fish and the residual contamination in air, deposition and surface waters.

Acid Rain

• Acid rain is a widespread problem throughout Greece, which affects not only agricultural aspects of the environment, as well as affecting the health of Greece’s lakes, but also man-made buildings too.Acid rain has had a detrimental effect upon the Parthenon and other Ancient Monuments though a partial reconstruction process has been underway for some time now.

Panorama landscape in 30s