Thick Smog Hangs Over Belgrade

A thick layer of smog enveloped Belgrade on Monday morning reducing visibility to such an extent that at times it was almost impossible to see across the Sava river which divides the city.

“High air pressure and low early morning temperatures accumulate pollution near the ground, so that is why the smog is so visible,” explains Snezana Matic from City Institute of Public Health.

Readings from the city's monitoring stations for January 17 show that levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulates on the Gazela bridge were above national standards, which themselves are already less stringent than those prescribed by the WHO.  

The national maximum for nitrogen dioxide, NO₂ is 60 micrograms per cubic metre, but the level on the Gazela bridge  at 4 p.m. was 71. Many other locations in the centre of town including Vracar, Stari grad and New Belgrade had levels around 50 micrograms per cubic metre. 

The WHO maximum guideline for particulates under 2.5 micrometers, PM2.5, is 25 micrograms per cubic metre, and for those up to 10 micrometers, PM10, 50. 

PM10 Levels measured in Belgrade on Monday were double the WHO recommend maximum, while levels of PM2.5 exceeded the limit by four times. 

Exposure to a high level of nitrogen dioxide can impair the transfer of oxygen in the blood, creating nausea and shortness of breath and exposure to particulates can cause respiratory and heart problems. PM2.5 particulates may also contain toxic metals and acids. 

At 40 micrograms of sulphur dioxide per cubic metre, levels of this pollutant were within national standards but WHO guidelines, recommend that levels of sulphur dioxide should not be higher than 20 micrograms per cubic metre, and hence levels measured in Serbian capital are troubling. 

However, an expert from the City Institute of Public Health says there is no cause for concern.  

“If the weather remains the same for the next three days, it will be a cause for concern. However, meteorologists predict rain, which clears pollution, so levels won’t remain high,” says Snezana Matic from City Institute of Public Health.

Real time monitoring of a range of pollutants is provided (in Serbian only)by the city