Air-suspended particles of air in the urban zone of Lazarevac town (Serbia): An environmental aspect

Abstract

Composite monthly samples of airborne particles collected at the measuring station in Lazarevac (Kolubara basin, Serbia) during nine consecutive months were chemically characterized in this study. The concentrations of certain minor elements in the PM₁₀ particles exceed a pallet of the elements that contain values higher than the maximum allowed concentrations. The most concerning are the As and Co concentrations, two very toxic elements that can cause cancer-related sicknesses through eventual inhalation. This report connects the chemical composition of the suspended air particles (potential pollutants) with their source and provides an estimate of the air quality in the investigated area for a particular timeframe of several consecutive months. The results indicated that air quality in Lazarevac area was rather low, affected by the excessive As and Co concentrations. The main source of the measured air pollution was an increased level of ash. The resulting ash-dominating pollution implies the necessity of the use of proper air filters in the nearby thermo-electric power plants, and sustainable use of coal in domestic households. In addition, the pollution can be moderated by careful use of coal as a solid fuel in individual local households. The results additionally provide a solid base for the future comparative studies of the local and regional air quality.