Air quality in Nikšić

What is the current level of air pollution in Niksic City?

Nikšić is located in the west of the country, in the centre of the spacious Nikšić field at the foot of Trebjesa Hill. It is the centre of Nikšić Municipality with an estimated population of approximately 72,443 according to a 2011 census. This ranks it as the second largest municipality after Podgorica, (the capital and largest city in Montenegro).

Towards the end of 2021, Nikšić was going through a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 55. This reading is often used as a reference point when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. Data is collected with regards to the six most prolific air pollutants commonly found and this figure is calculated from there. If information is not available for all six, then a figure can be deduced using the information that is available. In Nikšić the only recording was for PM2.5 which was noted to be 14.1 µg/m³. This level of PM2.5 is just in excess of the level of 10 µg/m³ which is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as being acceptable.

When the air quality is classified as being “Moderate” the given advice is to remain indoors as much as possible and close all doors and windows to prevent the ingress of more polluted air. Those who are more sensitive to poor air quality should try to avoid going outside until the air quality improves. If this is unavoidable, then a good quality mask should be worn at all times. All groups are dissuaded from partaking in vigorous outdoor exercise.

There is a mobile app available from AirVisual.com for most mobile devices which gives information regarding air quality in real-time. This information will assist in your decision as to whether or not to go outside.

Does the level of air pollution remain constant in Niksic?

Looking back at the figures for 2020 released by IQAir.com, it can easily be seen that the worst period for air quality is in the winter months. November and December brought figures from the “Unhealthy” group with figures of 62.9 and 59.4 µg/m³. And then the following two months of January and February saw levels from the “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” The recorded figures here were 54.9 and 38.8 µg/m³, respectively. In the months of March and April and during September and October the air quality was “Moderate” with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. May, July and August saw “Good” quality air with figures between 11 and 12 µg/m³. The month of June achieved the target figure of being less than 10 µg/m³ as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

There were no records regarding air pollution kept before 2020 when the figure was noted to be 28.7 µg/m³. This figure may not be a true reflection of reality because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many motorists were no longer required to commute to their offices each day in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. There were also some factories and smaller production units which were required to close on a temporary basis. Many cities throughout the world noted how much cleaner their city air was because of these measures.

Where does air pollution come from in Niksic?

The Western Balkans has the worst level of air quality in Europe - causing 13,500 premature deaths in the region each year. The harmful effects of the region on coal-fired power plants can be measured as far as Egypt. Major health consequences are also caused by the use of fuels, domestic heating boilers, agriculture and transport.

The WHO also estimates that exposure to particulate matter PM2.5 emitted by coal-fired power plants alone causes about 9,500 premature deaths each year in the Western Balkans, out of almost 13,500 deaths occurring each year from air pollution in general. where most of the dead are workers.

Air quality in some Montenegrin cities has deteriorated even further, joining similar problems in other cities in the region. The media report that in Plevlja, Bjelopole, Niksic and Podgorica, the air has significantly deteriorated in recent days, which has aroused the reaction of citizens.

Citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia and northern Macedonia suffer from pollutants from power plants and heating plant chimneys, as well as factories using coal and oil products. The air is being poisoned by outdated fuel processing plants and household ovens. A great deal of pollution also comes from construction, agricultural activities and traffic.

How can air quality be improved in Niksic?

The fine particles are mainly measured in the categories of 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) to ten micrometres (PM10), and their concentration is given in micrograms per cubic meter. Only special masks can somehow protect us from their penetration into our lungs and further into the body, as the particles are too small to be blocked by surgical and cotton masks. However, they also penetrate the skin.

Exposure to particles is associated with a range of diseases, ranging from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes and dementia, infertility, leukaemia in children and lung cancer. The smaller the particle the easier it will penetrate the body.

What are the effects of air pollution on health?

There are several components of smog that can be harmful to health. These are all those particles, gases and volatile liquids that originate from combustion processes such as the exhaust of diesel or petrol vehicles, industrial processes, the production of electricity and domestic heating.

Particularly polluting are the suspended particles (or Total Suspended Particulate) which include PM10 powders (i.e. with a diameter of less than 10 thousandths of a millimetre), PM2.5 fine powders and ultra-thin powders. The latter two are the most harmful pollutants for health: they are made up of various toxic substances (sulphates, nitrates, metals) and, thanks to their very small dimensions, they are also transported over long distances and in closed environments, easily penetrating the upper section of the respiratory system (from the nose to the larynx).

The worsening of the quality of the air we breathe therefore leads to a general increase in health problems (especially in the weakest subjects, such as children and the elderly) and a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and tumours.

Particulate matter PM2.5 is especially associated with cardiopulmonary effects, as the finest particles are able to reach the lungs and even reach the bloodstream, where they cause inflammation and contribute to the development of cardiac complications.