Praxis Medica (Jan 2016)

The concentration of soot as a factor of change in the air quality

  • Ilić Danijela,
  • Jović Jelena,
  • Mirković Momčilo,
  • Milošević Jovana,
  • Đurić Slađana,
  • Bukumirić Zoran,
  • Ćorac Aleksandar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5937/pramed1601035I
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 45, no. 1
pp. 35 – 39

Abstract

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Introduction: Soot usually occurs as a result of incomplete combustion of fuels containing carbon (fossil fuels - wood, coal). Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental threats to the urban population, which has harmful effects on human health, regardless of age. Objective to determine the extent to which the development of concentrations of soot in the air affects the air quality in the area tested. Methods: In the period from 2007. to 2011. the soot immission was followed at two sites: in Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan. The concentration of soot is determined by the reflectometric method. The statistical hypotheses were tested on statistical significance level of 0.05. Results: Overall, for both measuring points, there was a statistically significant change in value of the concentration of soot in the air (F = 6.779; p = 0.009). There was a significant increase in the concentration of soot in the air during the investigated years, with the highest values in 2010. and 2011. The average value of soot concentration for the period from 2007 to 2009 was 17.7 ± 21.3 mg / m3 while in the period from 2010. to 2011. it was 36.7 ± 45.2 µg/m3, which represents a statistically significant difference (U = 910082.5; p<0.001). The amount of average concentrations of soot in the heating season was 32.8 ± 44.2 µg/m3 while out of the heating season it was 16.8 ± 15.6 µg/m3 which is a statistically significant difference (U = 1030936; p <0.001). The distribution of average concentrations of soot in the air represented by month showed the highest value in January at both measuring locations, in Kosovska Mitrovica 86.8 µg/m3, and in Zvecan 34 µg/m3. The total number of soot over the limit value in the period surveyed was in Kosovska Mitrovica 256 days, and in Zvecan 90 days. Conclusion: In accordance with the objectives set out in this study and the results that we got, we found that there are significant differences in the movement of soot concentration and its impact on air quality.

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