Analysis of PM10, Pb, Cd, and Ni atmospheric concentrations during domestic heating season in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 2010 to 2019

New Insight into the Measurements of Particle-Bound Metals in the Urban and Remote Atmospheres of the Sarajevo Canton and Modeled Impacts of Particulate Air Pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…43 However, the same trends were not found for PM 10 and elements measured during winter seasons 2010–2019 in Sarajevo. 21 PM 10 results similar to the Sarajevo ones in this study were reported in Turkey (Tuzla region in the vicinity of Istanbul), 44 in the industrial city of Elefsis in Greece, 45 in urban areas of southeast Italy 46 during 2003–2010, and in Belgrade, Serbia. 47 For Belgrade, Joksić et al 47 reported average daily PM 10 of 37 μg/m 3 and 44 μg/m 3 during spring and summer of 2007, respectively, Mijić et al 48 values of 70 μg/m 3 for urban Belgrade area, and Perišić et al 49 the range of values of 32–81 μg/m 3 for the wider Belgrade area.…”

“…The correlation analysis revealed very strong correlations between most metals measured at the Sarajevo site ( Table S4 ), while at the Ivan Sedlo site the strongest correlations existed between several metals, grouped as V–Ni–Sr, Cu–Zn–As–Rb–Cd–Cs–Tl–Pb, and La–Ce ( Table S5 ). Huremović et al 21 found a very strong correlation ( r > 0.824) between Cd and Pb in PM 10 at the urban Pofalići site in Sarajevo, suggesting that Cd and Pb originated from the same pollution source(s), such as waste incineration, burning of treated and/or painted wood, and fossil fuel combustion. 71 , 72 …”

“…Šehbajraktarević et al 17 is the only study conducted at the same measuring sites as the study at hand, but with a different focus—heavy metals in atmospheric precipitation. Sulejmanović et al, 20 Žero et al, 1 and Huremović et al 21 focused on short-time measurements of PM metals in the city of Sarajevo, with results showing that metals concentrations are higher during the cold, winter period and household heating season.…”

“…S ̌ehbajraktarevićet al 17 is the only study conducted at the same measuring sites as the study at hand, but with a different focusheavy metals in atmospheric precipitation. Sulejma-novićet al, 20 Z ̌ero et al, 1 and Huremovićet al 21 focused on short-time measurements of PM metals in the city of Sarajevo, with results showing that metals concentrations are higher during the cold, winter period and household heating season. Throughout the region of the Western Balkans, it is well established that the energy sector, residential heating, and vehicle fleet contribute to some of the world's highest levels of winter air pollution.…”

Heavy metals content in ashes of wood pellets and the health risk assessment related to their presence in the environment

“…Many researchers have provided results about the physical and chemical characteristics of wood pellets, but such studies are still lacking for wood pellets used in B&H 13 , 14 . Additionally, some authors have found high concentrations of some heavy metals in particulate matter found in the air or street dust of B&H. They only propose that wood pellet from household is one of the sources of heavy metals in the ambient air or street dust of B&H, but the main information about heavy metal content in used pellets is missing 15 – 17 . Considering the above, this study is aimed to determine the heavy metal concentrations in the ashes produced by combusting ten wood pellet samples often used in B&H. Furthermore, the novelty of the work is related to health risk assessment associated with the presence of polluted ashes in the environment for children and adult residents in the region.…”