In December, the content of the carcinogenic substance benzopyrene in Pljevlja was more than 20 times higher than the permitted limit.
This is shown by the data from the report on air quality monitoring carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to the increased values of benzopyrene, a multiple increase in the value of PM 10 particles was also registered during December.
All this happened after the short-term measures of the Government, which were a response to the dramatic air pollution in Pljevlja.
The benzopyrene content calculated as the mean value of weekly samples in December was 21,23 nanograms per cubic meter, and the permitted value is only one nanogram.
The maximum daily value of harmful PM 10 particles, as much as 424,2 micrograms per cubic meter, which is eight times higher than the permitted values, was measured on December 16. According to data from the website of the Environmental Protection Agency, it was even worse yesterday, when 13 micrograms per cubic meter was measured at 446,7 p.m.
The lowest concentration was measured on the last day of last year - 78,7 micrograms per cubic meter, which is slightly higher than the permitted value. This means, in practice, that the concentration of PM 10 particles was above the permitted level throughout December, and according to current regulations, it should not exceed 35 days a year.
During December, six days of one-hour values of sulfur dioxide were above the prescribed limit value, and eight days of average daily values of this gas were above the prescribed limit value of 125 micrograms per cubic meter.
It belongs to the first group of carcinogens
Benzopyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and a highly carcinogenic substance, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer has included in the first group of carcinogens.
Experts warn that exposure to excessive concentrations of benzopyrene can cause cancer, because they remain in the lungs, and the decomposition process takes up to a year.
Benzopyrene is created as a result of incomplete combustion of energy sources, and is also found in tar, car exhaust, cigarette smoke...
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