Zoran Mijić

Active moss biomonitoring of trace elements with Sphagnum girgensohnii moss bags in relation to atmospheric bulk deposition in Belgrade, Serbia

Active biomonitoring with wet and dry moss bags was used to examine trace element atmospheric deposition in the urban area of Belgrade. The element accumulation capability of Sphagnum girgensohnii Russow was tested in relation to atmospheric bulk deposition. Moss bags were mounted for five 3-month periods (July 2005-October 2006) at three representative urban sites. For the same period monthly bulk atmospheric deposition samples were collected. The concentrations of Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb were determined by instrumental neutron activation analyses and atomic absorption spectrometry. Significant accumulation of most elements occurred in the exposed moss bags compared with the initial moss content. High correlations between the elements in moss and bulk deposits were found for V, Cu, As, and Ni. The enrichment factors of the elements for both types of monitor followed the same pattern at the corresponding sites.

Source apportionment of atmospheric bulk deposition in the Belgrade urban area using Positive Matrix factorization

The primary objective of the present study was to assess anthropogenic impacts of heavy metals to the environment by determination of total atmospheric deposition of heavy metals. Atmospheric depositions (wet + dry) were collected monthly, from June 2002 to December 2006, at three urban locations in Belgrade, using bulk deposition samplers. Concentrations of Fe, Al, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn, Cr, V, As and Cd were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Based upon these results, the study attempted to examine elemental associations in atmospheric deposition and to elucidate the potential sources of heavy metal contaminants in the region by the use of multivariate receptor model Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF).

Forecasting of VOC emissions from traffic and industry using classification and regression multivariate methods.

In this study, advanced multivariate methods were applied for VOC source apportionment and subsequent short-term forecast of industrial- and vehicle exhaust-related contributions in Belgrade urban area (Serbia). The VOC concentrations were measured using PTR-MS, together with inorganic gaseous pollutants (NOx, NO, NO2, SO2, and CO), PM10, and meteorological parameters. US EPA Positive Matrix Factorization and Unmix receptor models were applied to the obtained dataset both resolving six source profiles. For the purpose of forecasting industrial- and vehicle exhaust-related source contributions, different multivariate methods were employed in two separate cases, relying on meteorological data, and on meteorological data and concentrations of inorganic gaseous pollutants, respectively. The results indicate that Boosted Decision Trees and Multi-Layer Perceptrons were the best performing methods. According to the results, forecasting accuracy was high (lowest relative error of only 6%), in particular when the forecast was based on both meteorological parameters and concentrations of inorganic gaseous pollutants.

Assessment of Air Quality in an Urban Area of Belgrade, Serbia

Mirjana Tasi a, Slavica Rajsi a, Milica Tomasevi a, Zoran Miji a, Mira Ani i a, Velibor Novakovi a, Dragan M. Markovi a, Dragan A. Markovi b, Lazar Lazi c, Mirjana Radenkovi d and Jasminka Joksi d aInstitute of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia bFaculty of Applied Ecology, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia cInstitute of Meteorology, Faculty of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia dInstitute of Nuclear Science Vin a, Belgrade, Serbia

Comprehensive analysis of PM10 in Belgrade urban area on the basis of long-term measurements

In this study, we investigated the impact of potential emission sources and transport pathways on annual and seasonal PM10 loadings in an urban area of Belgrade (Serbia). The analyzed dataset comprised PM10 mass concentrations for the period 2003–2015, as well as their chemical composition (organic/elemental carbon, benzo[a]pyrene, As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cl−, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+, NO3−, SO42−, and NH4+), meteorological parameters, and concentrations of inorganic gaseous pollutants and soot for the period 2011–2015. The combination of different methods, such as source apportionment (Unmix), ensemble learning method (random forest), and multifractal and inverse multifractal analysis, was utilized in order to obtain a detailed description of the PM10 origin and spatio-temporal distribution and to determine their relationship with other pollutants and meteorological parameters. The contribution of long-range and regional transport was estimated by means of trajectory sector analysis, whereas the hybrid receptor models were applied to identify potential areas of concern.

Statistical Character and Transport Pathways of Atmospheric Aerosols in Belgrade

Clean air is considered to be a basic requirement for human health and well being. Various chemicals are emitted into the air from both, natural and anthropogenic sources. In spite of the introduction of cleaner technologies in industry, energy production and transport, air pollution remains a major health risk and tighter emission controls are being enforced by many governments. Atmospheric particles – aerosols – are some of the key components of the atmosphere. They influence the energy balance of the Earths surface, visibility, climate and environment as a whole [1-3]. According to World Health Organization (WHO), ozone, particulate matter (PM), heavy metals and some hydrocarbons present the priority pollutants in the troposphere [4]. Public health can also be indirectly affected by deposition of air pollutants in environmental media and uptake by plants and animals, what results in entering of chemicals into the food chain or drinking water, and thereby constituting additional sources of human exposure. A number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated that acute and chronic health effects are related to the inhalable PM10 (aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm) exposure in the urban environment, and some data also seem to indicate possible seasonal effects of the particulate matter on human health [5-10]. This is especially important for urban aerosols, whose variety of size and composition make complete characterization a difficult task. Particulate matter pollution is nowadays one of the problems of the most concern in great cities, not only because of the adverse health effects, but also of the reducing atmospheric visibility and affect to the state of conservation of various cultural heritages [11]. Therefore, the measurement of the levels of atmospheric particulate matter is a key parameter in air quality monitoring throughout the world.

Characteristics and Application of Receptor Models to the Atmospheric Aerosols Research

Atmospheric aerosols can be defined as solid and liquid particles suspended in air. Due to their confirmed role in climate change (IPCC, 2001), impact on human health (Dockery and Pope, 1994; Schwartz et al., 1996; Schwartz et al., 2001; WHO, 2002, 2003; Dockery and Pope, 2006), role on the radiative budget (IPCC, 2007), effects on ecosystems (Niyogi et al., 2004; Bytnerowicz et al., 2007), and local visibility they are of major scientific interest. The human activities in various aspects cause a change in the natural air quality. This change is more marked in very inhabited areas with high industrialization. Epidemiological research over the past 15 years has revealed a consistent statistical correlation between levels of airborne particulate matter (PM) and adverse human health effects (Pope et al., 2004; Dockery and Stone, 2007). Airborne particulate matter contains a wide range of substances, such as heavy metals, organic compounds, acidic gases, etc. Chemical reactions occurring on aerosols in the atmosphere can transform hazardous components and increase or decrease their potential for adverse health effects. Especially organic compounds react readily with atmospheric oxidants, and since small particles have a high surface-to-volume ratio, their chemical composition can be efficiently changed by interaction with trace gases such as ozone and nitrogen oxides. The impact of atmospheric aerosols on the radiative balance of the Earth is of comparable magnitude to greenhouse gases effect (Anderson et al., 2003). Atmospheric aerosol in the troposphere influences climate in two ways: directly, through the reflection and absorption of solar radiation, and indirectly through the modification of the optical properties and lifetime of clouds. Estimation of the radiative forcing induced by atmospheric aerosols is much more complex and uncertain compared with the well-mixed greenhouse gases because of the complex physical and chemical processes involved with aerosols and because of their short lifetimes which make their distributions inherently more inhomogeneous. In order to protect public health and the environment i.e. to control and reduce particulate matter levels, air quality standards (AQS) were issued and target values for annual and daily mean PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 m) and PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 m) mass concentrations were established. For the first stage, the EU Directive (EC, 1999) required an annual limit of 40 g m-3 and a 24h limit 7

PRIMENA HIBRIDNIH RECEPTORSKIH MODELA ZA ISPITIVANJE TRANSPORTA PM10 ČESTICA NA PODRUČJE BEOGRADA

Ispitivanje uticaja transporta atmosferskih aerosola na njihove koncentracije u urbanoj sredini su od kljucnog znacaja za razvoj i unapređenje efikasne kontrole kvaliteta vazduha. U periodu od 2003. do 2006. godine u Beogradu su vrsena merenja dnevnih masenih koncentracija PM 10 cestica i sadržaja metala (Pb, Cu, Zn, Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni i V) metodom atomske apsorpcione spektroskopije. Analizirana je njihova međusobna povezanost, trend promena koncentracija, kao i zavisnost od meteoroloskih parametara. U cilju određivanja moguceg regionalnog transporta atmosferskih aerosola na podrucje Beograda i identifikacije potencijalnih oblasti u kojima se nalaze izvori emisije primenjena su dva hibridna receptorska modela, Funkcija potencijalnih doprinosa izvora emisije i Model trajektorija otežinjenih koncentracijama. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju na postojanje dominantnog transporta cestica iz zapadnih i jugozapadnih oblasti.

Physical Characterization of PM10 and PM2.5 in Belgrade Atmosphere by SEM/EDX and Image Analysis System

Suspended atmospheric particulate matter, PM10 and PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm and 2.5 μm) are today a key issue in contemporary air pollution research. Daily aerosol samples were collected at three representative places in the central region of Belgrade in the period of 2002–2005. The results lead to assessment of air quality in urban area of Belgrade.

Some Characteristic Air Back Trajectories For High PM10 And PM2.5 Concentration Episodes in Belgrade

A pilot study was performed to assess the concentration level of ambient suspended particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 in the Belgrade urban area. This study has shown theoretical and experimental evidence of pollutants for characteristic measurements when maximum PM concentrations occurred. For this study, 60‐h air‐back trajectories are calculated. When the air masses were coming from the SW direction, the contribution from the complex of coal‐fired power plants was evident.