Assessment of detected in situ and modeled PM10/2.5 concentration levels during the urban transformation process in Novi Sad, Serbia

Abstract

Ambient air pollution is a very considerable and complex physicochemical and environmental issue. Particulate matter (PM) is one of the fundamental pollutants constituted in ambient air. Rapidly expanding urban transformations in city of Novi Sad, Serbia, produces high concentrations of PM. The vast and growing number of construction sites as pollution emission hotspots induce constant nuisance for the people, build surrounding and environment in total. Serbian legislation has set PM pollution limit values for daily emissions, but the air pollutant registry still does not recognize construction sites as severe sources of PM emergence. Understanding the importance and the effects of PM emission from construction sites is crucial in environmental preservation. For the preparation and application of methods and techniques for prevention and mitigation, suitable environmental pollution modeling needs to be achieved. The aim of the research is to assess and determine the utility of Tier 1 prediction model designed by Environmental Protection Agency and environmental modeling software ADMS URBAN on observed construction sites in Novi Sad, Serbia. Assessing monitoring data confirms construction sites as significant PM10 and PM2.5 pollution sources. Two sets of correction coefficients were calculated for PM10 and PM2.5, using average and median values, 2.56-2.54 and 1.03-0.97 respectively. The research study was for the first time conducted in Novi Sad, Serbia in the case of construction sites.