Author(s):
1. Ranka Radić, Republic Hydrometeorological Institute, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Petar Gvero, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract:
Air quality in rural areas remains a neglected issue so far. Significant share of the population in Western Balkan region live in the small and medium size settlements where air quality is heavily influenced by the residential heating systems, mainly using biomass as a fuels, as well as agricultural activities related with soil fertilization. Although biomass is a renewable source of energy with significant advantages from aspect of climate changes mitigation, biomass combustion is a significant air pollution source, which havet, regional and local impacts on the air quality and public health.The main harmful pollutants emitted during combustion of biomass in residential stoves are particulate matter (PM), with attached BC, PAHs, especially BaP, which is well-known human carcinogen. This paper shows the results of the measurements of mass concentration of particulate matter (PM10) and elemental analysis of PM10 in rural area during the winter and summer season as well as meteorological measurements. Source apportionment was done using PMF model in order to identify dominant sources of the pollution. The results of provided analysis shown that wood burning processes are the largest source of trace elements and PM10 with significant affect of meteorological conditions. Efficient measures for air quality improvement were analyzed. The objective of this paper is to highlight the public health importance of the so far neglected issue of quality of air in rural areas and to attract the attention of the scientific community to the need for further research in this area.

Key words:
biomass burning, pmf, air pollution, pm

Thematic field:
Quality and Ecology

Date of abstract submission:
16.03.2017.

Conference:
13th International Conference on Accomplishments in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

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