Urban air pollution caused by the emission of PM10 from the small household devices and abatement measures

Abstract

This paper is focusing on Particulate Matter (PM10) as the one of the main pollutants in the urban environments, and the one of the main sources of PM emissions are small household furnaces. This paper shows a part of the results of the research related to measurements of the ambient concentrations of aerosols and definition of the sources of the pollution in one part of Banja Luka city area, with dominant private households. Spatial and seasonal variability of concentrations indicates a significant contribution of biomass and fossil fuel burning as well as specific meteorological conditions. By using positive matrix factorization, (PMF) technique chemical composition data for PM10 were analysed in order to identify the possible sources and estimate their contribution to particulate matter mass. A biomass combustion devices were identified as the one of dominant PM10 emission sources during the winter season, because highly determined correlation between PM10 and potassium content. From the other side, the results of the project "Typology of Residential Buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina", were used as a tool for prediction and quantification of influence of the household's appliances on the pollution as well as for definition of the possible measures for reduction for this specific location. This approach took in consideration spatial distribution of buildings, but also their type, which can give the opportunity to estimate their present energy needs and predict improvements, which can lead to reduction of the PM10 pollution at the end. On that base, some recommendations for the improvements were analysed.