Ozone: The rain stopped the fires, but did not wash away the responsibility of those who also used ecocide for profit

According to the Environmental Movement "Ozone", the national air quality monitoring network registered 1 hourly concentrations of suspended PM25 particles, above the legally permitted maximum, in the period from August 165 to 10, during which there were a large number of fires in the territory of the municipality of Nikšić. values ​​of 50 µg/m3

"Of these, 53 hourly values ​​were between 90 and 180 µg/m3, which is high air pollution, and 12 hourly concentrations exceeded 180 µg/m3, which is very high air pollution. The highest hourly concentration was on August 23 in 8 h it was 277 µg/m4", announced from "Ozon".

As part of the civil monitoring program "Ekoskop", they continuously monitored the situation and informed the citizens, passing on the recommendations given by the Institute for Public Health of Montenegro, in order to reduce the consequences of ecocide to which the people of Nikšić were exposed.

"We visited the field and had constant communication with the Protection and Rescue Service of the municipality of Nikšić, which we will nominate for the September 18 award, the voluntary fire brigade 'Brestica', the local self-government headed by President Marko Kovačević, so that they could analyze the causes of air pollution in the best way , which is a prerequisite for proposals on how to improve system protection and recognize the risks and needs of the local community," the "Ozone" press release states.

As they said, they plan to prepare a series of concrete proposals for improving the systemic response to such phenomena, which threatened "public health and caused permanent and serious ecosystemic and economic damage", the exact determination of which they will insist on.

"We express our regret for the inadequate behavior of the competent institutions, which, especially during the severe health crisis caused by the coronavirus, had to make additional efforts in order to try to contribute to the reduction of risks to public health and the environment through public engagement and media presence, which was also missing this time. "The rain stopped the fires, but it did not wash away the responsibility of those who also used the ecocide for profit, whether it is financial or political is completely irrelevant", they said from "Ozon".

PM2.5 particles are even more harmful to citizens' health

Geographer Ivan Mijanović told "Vijesta" that the air quality index in Nikšić is significantly lower than it is shown, due to the lack of readings of PM2.5 particles.

"For the whole of August, since the fires took hold, no data for PM2.5 particles has been published. They are simply not in the archive, nor are they being read. These particles, among other things, are created by forest fires, and have a catastrophic effect on the human body. These particles remain much longer in the air than PM10 particles. This means that people and animals are in a much greater danger from inhaling them," said Mijanović, who is just finishing his scientific work on PM10 and PM2.5 particles in Nikšić.