Scope of air quality monitoring within the Network of Public Health Institutes in Republic of Serbia

• Main Authors: Matić Branislava I., Dejanović Snežana M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Savez inženjera i tehničara Srbije 2020-01-01
• Series: Tehnika
• Subjects: air quality; public health network; serbia
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0040-2176/2020/0040-21762002261M.pdf
• ISSN: 0040-2176; 2560-3086

Coal burning power plants, household solid fuel combustion, industrial contamination, traffic, and topography of urban settings are key reasons for labelling air pollution as a serious public health threat for urban population in Republic of Serbia, where air quality (AQ) is monitored by both National and Local network of measuring stations. The research tool in this cross-sectional study is a database formed by the Institute of Public Health of Serbia (IPHS) as a part of continuous AQ monitoring process for the Ministry of Health, through regular reporting of local IPHs, from the Network of Public Health Institutes (Network). Depending on the Local AQ monitoring Program, sources of continuous air pollution and pollutants' chemical nature, local IPHs monitor among the following: SO2, black carbon (BC), NO2, total atmospheric deposited matter, BeToXy, PM10 and PM2.5. SO2 and BC are measured daily. In 2018, 18 out of 25 Network IPHs monitored AQ for any of the given parameters: SO2 at 76 measuring points in 33 urban settlements; both BC and NO2 at 70 measuring points in 31 settlements. The pollutants most needed to be monitored are PM10 and PM2.5 particles, but are still monitored with the least frequency within the Network. Only 8 out of 25 IPHs monitors PM10 in 15 settlements at 28 measuring points. Local programs of AQ monitoring in Serbia, conducted with the participation of the IPHs Network, give an incomplete coverage of potential public health threats for quantifying the burden of disease originating from urban air pollution.