The fog has been binding Pljevlja for several days, and the instruments of the Environmental Protection Agency, installed in the Gagovića estate, are measuring high levels of air pollution in the northernmost Montenegrin city.
Last night at 21 pm, the concentration of PM 10 particles in the air was measured at 480,3 micrograms per cubic meter, which is almost ten times higher than the limit average daily concentration of 50 milligrams per cubic meter.
Increased values of these harmful substances in the air were measured throughout the previous night, and this morning they were several times higher than the limit values.
This morning at 10 the concentration of PM 10 particles was 223.8 micrograms per cubic meter, that is, four and a half times more than the allowed daily concentration.
At the same time, the pollution in Bijelo Polje, a city that is considered one of the most polluted during the burning season, the concentration of PM 10 particles was 87 micrograms per cubic meter, that is, almost three times less than in Pljevlja.
Since the day before yesterday, the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the air has not been measured at the measuring station in the Gagović estate due to a malfunction in the equipment.
A short notice was published on the Agency's website that the sulfur dioxide analyzer is in "alarm" status, which is the reason for stopping the measurement of that parameter.
"CETI technical staff will carry out the necessary activities during the next week to continue measuring sulfur dioxide concentrations at this location," the notice said.
The president of the Breznica Ecological Society, Milorad Mitrović, suspects that the reason for the suspension of the measurements "is most likely the consecutive multi-hour exceedance of the warning threshold in order to cover up the measured values so that the people would not panic."
"Why hasn't anyone done anything for years when this much pollution has been measured in Pljevlja? Why are measures from the Short-term Action Plan for the Municipality of Pljevlja not taken? Everyone just talks and no one does anything. The short-term action plan for the Municipality of Pljevlja in case of exceeding or the risk of exceeding the warning threshold for sulfur (IV) oxide SO2 is a dead letter because none of the planned measures have ever been implemented," Mitrović said.
He claims that exceedances of the warning threshold for sulfur (IV) oxide SO2 were registered in the afternoon and evening hours of December 23 and 24.
"Very high concentrations of pollutants in the air were measured at the measuring point in the urban area of Pljevlja. The concentration of sulfur (IV) oxide SO2 at 16 p.m. - 307,4ųg/m3, at 20 p.m. - 366,3 ųg/m3, and at 21 p.m. it was 480,3 ųg/m3, which is not above the warning limit of 500µg/m3 but it is certainly close and there is a real danger of crossing that threshold. This situation deserves caution and additional measurements and the implementation of certain activities to reduce emissions of harmful and health-threatening gases".
In a longer period, Mitrović points out, very high concentrations of PM10 particles were measured in the air, which additionally affects the very poor air quality in the urban area of Pljevlja.
"On the basis of Article 23 of the Law on Air Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency adopted a short-term action plan for the Municipality of Pljevlja in case of exceeding or risk of exceeding the warning threshold for sulfur (IV) oxide SO2, but no measure was ever implemented and this is justified by the fact that there was no exceedance for a consecutive duration of three consecutive hours, and nobody takes the fact that the instruments measured almost the maximum allowed concentration seriously," said Mitrović.
Pljevlja was also the most polluted city in Montenegro during November, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency's monthly report on air quality in the country. During November, the average daily concentration of PM10 particles was exceeded in Pljevlja for 17 days.
The increased presence of benzo(a)pyrene in suspended PM 10 particles was also measured.
Benz(a)pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and is the result of incomplete combustion.
In Pljevlje and Bijelo Polje, the values of benzo(a)pyrene in suspended PM 10 particles were more than five times the target value of one nanogram per cubic meter.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer included it in the first group of carcinogenic substances.
Benzo(a)pyrene is found in tar, in automobile exhaust gases, especially diesel engines, in smoke produced by burning organic matter, such as cigarette smoke, and in grilled food.
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