Air Quality in the Town of Bijeljina - Trends and Levels of So2 and No2 Concentrations

Abstract

The paper presents results of the measurements of the sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration and meteorological parameters: temperature, air pressure, relative humidity and wind speed. The data were collected from January 2019 to December 2020 at two stations, namely Center and Heating plant, in the City of Bijeljina, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. SO2 and NO2 are one of the major air pollutants that could negatively affect the human health. Levels of SO2 and NO2 in air samples and meteorological variables from urban zone of Bijeljina were determined at both localities, which represent a highly-populated area with intensive traffic. This topic has not been studied up to now in Bijeljina, although the recent research data indicates that there is a correlation between meteorological parameters and air pollutants. Statistical analysis confirms direct corelation between SO2 and NO2 and meteorological parameters, specially temperature in locality Center (r = -0.639), the wind speed in locality Heating plant (r = 0.399) and relative humidity (r = 0.162). Correlation of NO2 with temperature is not confirmed in both localities. The wind speed increase is followed by rises of the NO2 concentration values and vice versa. Correlation of NO2 with pressure is confirmed in locality Center (r = 0.128) but it is not confirmed in locality Heating plant. Correlation between NO2 and relative humidity found to be negative in locality Center (r = -0.062). These parameters are the most important meteorological factors influencing the variation in SO2 and NO2 concentration in the air during the research. Depending on the obtained correlation, meteorological parameters had a positive or negative impact on air pollution.

Environmental protection between pollution, protection and legislation

“…2010;Gašić et al 2010;Trkulja i sar. 2010;Lammel et al 2010aLammel et al , 2010bLammel et al , 2011Илић 2015;Илић и Максимовић 2021;Radović et al 2022;Ćirišan et al 2023), воде (Trkulja 2006;Ilić et al 2021aIlić et al , 2021b, велике количине отпада (Ilić i sar. 2007;Nešković Markić et al 2019;Нешковић Маркић и сар.…”

Evaluation of ambient air quality as a component of the environment

“…Балканске земље имају висок ниво загађења ваздуха и смртних случајева везаних за загађење ваздуха уопште у Европи. Проблем загађења ваздуха присутан је и у Републици Српској (Ilić et al 2018e, 2020bИлић и Максимовић 2021;Radović et al 2022). Босна и Херцеговина (БиХ) је једна од најзагађенијих земаља у Европи са аспекта присуства суспендованих честица и имала је највиши европски просјек од 55,1 μg/m 3 суспендованих честица до 10 μm (PM 10 ), са нагласком да се мјерења обично врше у најзагађенијим подручјима.…”

Emissions of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) from Coal-Fired Power Plants in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina: First Attempts of a Validation of TROPOMI Satellite Products with Airborne In Situ Measurements

“…The Western Balkan region belongs to the most polluted regions in Europe significantly impacting the health of the population (e.g. Lammel et al 2011;Podrascanin and Mihailovic 2013;Ilić et al 2018;Mrazovac Kurilić et al 2019;Podrascanin 2019;Banja et al 2020;Ilić et al 2020;Mrazovac Kurilić et al 2020;Ulniković et al 2020;Milošević and Mrazovac Kurilić 2021;Mimić et al 2021;Bellis et al 2022;Radović et al 2022;Šikoparija et al 2022). It is well-known that especially pollution from coal-fired power plants damages health, impacting particularly the respiratory system, causing bronchitis, asthma, a number of cardiovascular diseases and premature deaths (Lin et al 2018;Matkovic et al 2020).…”