Ukraine's economy characterized by a high proportion resource and energy technology, implementation and building which carried most "cheap" way without building appropriate treatment facilities. This was possible by absence of effective legal, administrative and economic mechanisms of environmental and excluding claims environment.

The main reasons that led to the threatened status of environment are:  outdated production technology and equipment, high  energy efficiency and materials consumption in excess of two - three  times the corresponding rates in developed countries;  high concentration of industrial facilities;  unfavorable structure of industrial production with high concentration of environmentally dangerous productions;  absence of proper environmental systems (sewage treatment plants,  circulating water supply systems, etc.), low of existing environmental objects;  lack of appropriate legal and economic mechanisms  which would stimulate the development of environmentally sound technologies and environmental systems;  lack of proper control over the protection of the environment.

Steel industry, which includes black and color metallurgy, coke and rolling production, as well as related helper objects and processes is one of the most polluting industries whose emissions from stationary sources pollution reaching 38 percent of total pollutants.

In some regions of Ukraine high concentration of chemical and petrochemical plants led to too high contamination of water sources. In open waters chemical Enterprise shed annually 70 million cubic meters of untreated or inadequately treated sewage. Chemical industry - one of the main areas where formed in large amounts of waste, much of which - toxic.

Oil and gas companies in terms of adverse environmental impacts are considered of high ecological risk. They are potential sources of pollution that can occur in case of violation of technological modes equipment or emergency. Some items may contaminate environment and under normal operating conditions, that is caused by existing process.

Among industrial facilities one of the main pollutants air is Enterprise heat (about 30 percent of all harmful emissions from stationary sources). In the field of ecology in thermal energy is dominated by two major problems: air pollution and land pollution through to accumulation of large quantities of waste (ash, slag, dust).

Nuclear power in Ukraine is used in all areas of the economy - industry, medicine, agriculture agriculture, scientific research, as well as in everyday life. In 1996, 43.9 percent of all electricity was produced from nuclear power. In five NPP employed 15 nuclear units total capacity of tys.mvt., which was produced 79.6 mlrd.kvt-hours of electricity. As the number of reactors and their capacity Ukraine ranks eighth in the world and fifth - in Europe.

The main source of risk in the 30-kilometer zone of Chernobyl NPP is "Shelter" which focused dangerous radioactive substances and nuclear materials, radioactivity which about 20 mln.kyuri. In six regions of Ukraine are regional enterprises UkrSA "Radon" for processing and storage of radioactive waste taking on the storage of radioactive waste from all sectors economy. These companies also have plants for primary processing.

Because of the large number of artificial and natural sources ionizing radiation from the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine has developed a very complex radiological situation that necessitates the creation of a system of measures radiation protection and environmental environment.

Agriculture in Ukraine - the most labor-intensive industry, which has a strong natural resource potential. In agricultural production annually uses more than 10.9 billion cubic meters of water. If Ukraine in Europe is 5.7% of the territory, its agricultural land %, and arable land %.

The main reasons for the low return potential of land in Ukraine is Wasteful relationship to the land, perfect technique and technology of farming, the widespread failure of crop rotation and others. Qualitative state land fund deteriorates. Using a large number of mineral fertilizers, pesticides complicated ecological situation in Ukraine.

Significant environmental contaminant is the transport industry, significant environmental damage cause exhaust gases of cars, fuel and lubricants, steam harmful substances. Because of the large volume of fuel consumption vehicles pollute the environment with toxic ingredients: 25% - salts of lead, 50% - carbon monoxide. Major pollutants railway - a diesel exhaust gases, phenol, aerosols, trash. Sea transport pollutes sea food waste products, garbage, oil.

In Ukraine intensive processes of urbanization. Their negative effects are: 1) the concentration and load of industrial facilities in a limited area; 2) unfavorable territorial planning structures; 3) inferiority urban problems; 4) environmental destruction of big cities.

System water supply and sewage today is in crisis ecological condition of the following reasons: - Water supply networks have internal rust; - More than 17% of the water does not meet the standard; - Have no centralized sewage systems; - Industries dumped into the water harmful substances.

Perennial energy and raw material specialization put Ukraine among the countries with the highest absolute volume waste. Lack of normal administrative and criminal liability for violation of collecting, storing, transporting industrial waste. Existing level waste recycled resources does not affect environmental improvements.

The main sources of fresh water in Ukraine - runoff rivers Dnieper, Dniester, SW. Bug, Seversky Donets, Danube. In order to secure the population and economy necessary amount of water in Ukraine built 1087 reservoirs. For ecosystem water bodies of Ukraine have elements of environmental and metabolic recourse. The main pollutants include oil products products, phenols, heavy metals.

The main causes of water pollution Ukraine are: - Untreated or treated fairly municipal and industrial wastewater into water bodies; - Revenues of groundwater contaminants; - Soil erosion by water intake area. Considerable damage the ecosystem along the Dnieper basin with annual pollution by organic substances, causing nutrient pollution. Ecological rehabilitation of the Dnipro Basin is one of the most important priorities of the state policy in the field of protection and restoration of water resources.

The mineral base is the basis of more than 90% heavy industrial production. The share of mineral complex accounted for a third of assets. Unresolved is the issue of geological exploration and use of man- made mineral deposits.

The current ecological situation in Ukraine can be characterized as a crisis that has evolved over a long period by neglecting the objective laws of development and reproduction of natural- resource sector of Ukraine. There were structural deformation of the economy in which the preference for development in Ukraine-raw- material producing the environmentally of dangerous industries.