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This extensive study considered the air pollution data after the flash smelting technology for copper production had become fully operational. The assessment of the air quality after the implementation was significantly important, since the modernisation was necessary for reducing the environmental contamination in one of the most polluted regions in South-Eastern Europe. The concentrations of SO2, PM10 and toxic elements (As, Pb, Cd, Ni) in PM10 samples were monitored at different sites, with respect to the copper smelter, in the period 2016–2019. The air quality evaluation was performed concerning the corresponding limit and target values defined by the Serbian and European legislation, as well as the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (WHO AQG). The measured SO2 concentrations indicated frequent exceedances of the defined daily and annual limit values, at both national and European level. Although exceedances were not as pronounced as in the period before the implementation of the new technology, the episodes of extreme air pollution with SO2 persisted on the daily basis. The maximum daily SO2 concentration of 2125 μg m−3 was more than 100 times higher compared to the WHO AQG, but lower compared to the period before the implementation of the flash smelting technology. The air quality considering PM10 and especially As levels in PM10 samples was notably poorer after the modernisation. The annual target value for As, defined by the European and Serbian Regulation, was exceeded at all the measuring sites, with maximum exceedance of more than 90 times at the suburban site during 2019. The frequent exceedances of the corresponding annual limit and target values were also denoted for Pb and Cd in PM10 samples. The analysed data emphasised that the Bor area could still be characterised as an environmental hotspot in Serbia and beyond.

Urban airborne particles contain a wide spectrum of components, known to have harmful effects on human health. This study reports a detailed investigation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), chemical content and oxidative potential derived from two different urban environments. During summer and winter, 20-day campaigns were conducted at Belgrade city center (urban-background site – UB) and Bor (urban-industrial site – UI). Using various analytical techniques, carbonaceous compounds, water-soluble inorganic ions, major and trace elements were determined, while the oxidative potential of PM2.5 was estimated by dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay (OPDCFH values). The mean PM2.5 concentrations in both urban environments were above the recommended daily value, and the dominant PM2.5 mass contributor was organic matter (29–55%). The OC/EC ratio was significantly higher at UB site during winter, which was an indication of a considerable contribution of secondary organic carbon to the overall organic carbon (OC). Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) was also higher at UB than at UI site, and it probably came from the same sources as OC. In general, the different partition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in warm and cold periods affected the number of organic components. Sulfates and nitrates were the most abundant ions at both sites and they counted approximately 40% (summer) and 50% (winter) of total ions. Further, the concentrations of the most elements, particularly some potentially carcinogenic elements such as As, Cd and Pb were significantly higher at UI, due to the emissions from the copper smelter complex in the vicinity. The mean OPDCFH values were similar during the summer at both sampling sites, whereas a statistically significant difference between sites was noticed in favor of UB environment in winter.

Accurate monitoring of indoor mass concentrations of particulate matter is very important for health risk assessment as people in developed countries spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. The direct reading, aerosol monitoring device, Turnkey, OSIRIS Particle Monitor (Model 2315) and the European reference low volume sampler, LVS3 (Sven/Leckel LVS3) with size-selective inlets for PM10 and PM2.5 fractions were used to assess the comparability of available optical and gravimetric methods for particulate matter characterization in indoor air. Simultaneous 24-hour samples were collected in an indoor environment for 60 sampling periods in the town of Bor, Serbia. The 24-hour mean PM10 levels from the OSIRIS monitor were well correlated with the LVS3 levels (R-2=0.87) and did not show statistically significant bias. The 24-hour mean PM2.5 levels from the OSIRIS monitor were moderately correlated with the LVS3 levels (R-2=0.71), but show statistically significant bias. The results suggest that the OSIRIS monitor provides sufficiently accurate measurements for PM10. The OSIRIS monitor under-estimated the indoor PM10 concentrations by approximately 12%, relative to the reference LVS3 sampler. The accuracy of PM10 measurements could be further improved through empirical adjustment. For the fine fraction of particulate matter, PM2.5, it was found that the OSIRIS monitor underestimated indoor concentrations by approximately 63%, relative to the reference LVS3 sampler. This could lead to exposure misclassification in health effects studies relying on PM2.5 measurements collected with this instrument in indoor environments. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.