[ad_1]
After a few days of silence, the Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) admitted that a month ago the range of air quality indices changed, according to which the daily level of pollution by PM particles, the most dangerous pollution parameter, was mitigated. key. yesterday it was characterized as “contaminated” now “acceptable”.
For the change, which in its new news item is called “adjustment of the range of the air quality index”, SEPA explains that it was implemented a month ago, and that, we quote, – to consolidate the data from the measurement stations, therefore that it was necessary to apply the same index. ”.
– The changes introduced refer exclusively to the harmonization of the range of air quality indices, and not to changes in the criteria for evaluating air quality, which, unlike the air quality index, are covered by legislation of the Republic of Serbia. To clarify, with the help of an index that evaluates air quality, we show the data from the automatic measurement stations in real time. Specifically, every hour, with the help of the index, we show air quality, and in that way we form unique and simple information from a large amount of data with the aim of more efficient and transparent communication with citizens – announced SEPA on its website.
So practically with simple changes to the paper, called harmonization or whatever, the gist is that the citizens of Serbia got cleaner air literally overnight, although nothing concrete has been done to make it really more. easy to pass.
Let us remind you that Belgrade is a city that, according to all world parameters and sites that measure air pollution in real time, is one of the most polluted capitals in the world, after the cities of India, Pakistan and China, and in Europe it is often the first on that infamous list.
And when you look at other cities, not just the capital, the situation is even worse! The citizens of Valjevo, Kosjercija, Uzice, Novi Sad, Subotica, Smederevo, Pozarevac, Bor, Nis breathe alarmingly polluted air throughout the year, and especially in winter … All this is confirmed by the annual reports on air pollution in our country prepared by SEPA. .
How polluted air has now become acceptable to our lungs
“Blic” has already written about the change that was noted on the SEPA website, in the table listing the air quality indices for the “one hour average” period. Classify air quality to the presence of PM2.5 particles, which are the most toxic in the air and so small and dangerous that they penetrate into the deepest parts of the lungs and cause various diseases, in real time for a month looks like this:
- “Good” 15.01-30
- “Acceptable” 01/30-55
- “Contaminated” 55.01-110
- “Highly contaminated” more than 110 (micrograms per cubic meter)
However, the mitigation, which the SEPA now calls “range adjustment”, has been confirmed by the same table published by the Agency in its Annual Report on Air Quality in Serbia in 2019, in which the real-time indices are defined as follows:
- “Good” 15.01-30
- “Acceptable” 01/30-40
- “Contaminated” 40.01-90
- “Very polluted” more than 90
Practically, with this “harmonization”, the citizens of Serbia have been “informed” in real time that the air is “acceptable”, although according to the above index, the concentration of PM2.5 particles is 15 micrograms per cubic meter higher! ! Until a month ago, the warning would be that the air is “polluted” and if completely different health recommendations would be applied to citizens than those that were qualified as “acceptable”.
Sensitive until yesterday, they were warned not to go out, and now is it okay?
As Ognjan Pantić, project coordinator for air pollution reduction at the Belgrade Open School (BOS), explains in an interview for “Blic”, the fact is that the daily quality index of the law is not defined by law , but the main problem is that this change has a looser assessment of air quality. Live”.
An additional problem is that according to European standards, air that contains more than 25 micrograms of PM2.5 particles is defined as “polluted”, and in our country it is now necessary for the concentration of this most dangerous pollutant to be 55 micrograms, to rate the daily index as polluted. ”.
– Although this system must inform citizens in a timely manner, the consequence of these changes is that the situation looks better than it is. And what happens to the air in real time, which is described in the aforementioned indices, is important information for the groups of citizens most vulnerable to air pollution, such as chronic patients, to know that if the air quality is “contaminated” to reduce physical activity or not go outside – explains Pantic.
An additional problem, when it comes to the index, is that ours is not the same as with the European Environmental Protection Agency, because ours has five and the European has six levels, while the national one is much more tolerant.
– If we follow examples of good practice, we should apply the Europeans. The indices are not the same in the countries of the region. An example is Bosnia and Herzegovina, also affected by heavy air pollution, but has an intermediate category that defines air, when the concentration of PM2.5 particles is higher than 40 micrograms, as “dangerous for sensitive groups”, and when it exceeds 55 micrograms, as “dangerous for sensitive groups”. everything. “And these indices in Serbia now would be a better solution for citizens’ daily information, concludes Ognjen Pantić.
By the way, in order to get the data on current pollution on the SEPE site, you have to make a good effort to find those data, and from the information you will only get what the air is like in the city or municipality that interests you.
You will not find here which health warning applies to a certain category of pollution. But, for example, if you go to the “Blic” site, the air pollution link or Beoeko, you will also discover how this current pollution affects health.
This is why ranking is so important
So let’s say by polluted air, when in the red zone, it indicates: Health problems can occur throughout the population., but with vulnerable groups (the elderly, children, people with heart and lung diseases) I can inform more serious health problems than in the population of healthy individuals. Consequently, a recommendation for vulnerable groups: Avoid strenuous activities in the external environment. Redirect indoor activities until air quality improves. Recommendation for others in the population: Shorten length and reduce intensity of strenuous activities. Take more frequent breaks from all outdoor activities. Stressful activities are activities in the external environment that are accompanied by rapid and deep breathing.
And when air pollution is “acceptable”, the recommendations are much milder – Code vulnerable groups Certain health problems may occur in the population (most often the exacerbation of an existing disease), but no health effects are expected in healthy people.
In this case, the recommendations are completely different, much softer and apply only to vulnerable groups: You can stay outdoors, but watch for symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and also palpitations and an unusual feeling of fatigue in people with heart disease. If these symptoms occur, shorten the duration and reduce the intensity of strenuous activities in the external environment …
Change of law
Considering that the Government Decree on monitoring conditions and air quality requirements (Official Gazette of RS 22/2010) defines the evaluation of air quality in such a way that the main factor is the limit value of pollutants, which in the case of PM particles is 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Apparently, we will have to wait for the 2020 SEPA Annual Report, to know if it really is just about “adjusting the index range” or, as is suspected, making more flexible air quality assessment criteria, which cannot be done without changing the law.
To remember, PM particles are a mixture of smoke, soot, acid, and heavy metals, and are formed by the combined influence of heating, industry, and traffic. Due to their size, these particles pose a great danger to health, as they remain in the air for a long time and can enter the bloodstream and lungs, where they cause significant health problems.
According to the latest WHO report “The State of the Global Air 2020”, air pollution was the fourth leading risk factor for premature death in the world, accounting for almost 12 percent of all deaths, with more than 6, 67 million in 2019 alone. In Serbia, according to the WHO, from an excessive concentration of PM2.5 particles alone, some 3,600 people die prematurely, and more than half of that number died prematurely in Belgrade.
VIDEO: Pollution in Nis
[ad_2]
