Bulgaria's energy sector remains one of the major sources of emissions of sulfur dioxide and the main source of nitrous oxide emissions, according to a report for 2011.

Bulgaria's energy sector generated 79.9% of the total of greenhouse gas emissions in 2011, according to a nationwide report on environmental conservation prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Executive Environment Agency.

The report was presented Monday at a briefing attended by Yulian Popov, caretaker Minister of Environment and Water.

According to the report, the most important sources of adverse environmental impact in 2011 were the consumption of energy and natural resources by the economic sectors, the emissions and effluents into air, water or soil and waste disposal.

Road transport was also associated with an increased consumption of fuel and harmful emissions in the atmosphere, emissions of ozone precursors, and fine dust particles.

The sector accounted for 91.5% of the total of energy consumption.

Agriculture was also a major source of emissions of harmful gases, the main pollutants being ammonia, 74%, and non-methane volatile organic compounds, 11% of the country's emissions.

According to the report, all of these factors constituted a serious threat to human health and were the main reasons for the deteriorating condition of ecosystems.

The share of the population exposed to concentrations of fine dust particles above the normal reached 51%, the worst affected cities being Pernik, Vidin and Vratsa.