The 21st International Conference “Man and Working Environment”
SAFETY ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT SCIENCE, INDUSTRY, EDUCATION (SEMSIE 2025)   
PROCEEDINGS OF PAPERS 
25-26 September 2025, SOKOBANJA, SERBIA  

Viša Tasić , Milan Protić , Bojan Radović ,
Renata Kovačević , Nikola Mišić , Zvonko Damnjanović 

ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY: ANALYSIS OF SUSPENDED PARTICLES IN RESIDENTIAL SPACES IN BOR, SERBIA 

DOI: 10.46793/SEMSIE25.241T
DOWNLOAD FULL PDF
Abstract:

This study examines the levels of suspended particles (PM10 and PM2.5) in residential settings in Bor, Serbia, alongside simultaneous outdoor measurements of PM. The project lasts 2 years and involves 30 apartments per year, selected based on criteria such as window type, connection to central heating, non-smoking status, distance from major pollution sources, and prevailing wind direction. Results from the winter measurement campaign (heating season) in 15 apartments, presented here, show that indoor PM concentrations vary significantly depending on ventilation habits, window type, and proximity to pollution sources. Measurements were conducted over 45 days during the heating season, and residents maintained activity diaries to document household activities. The average PM10 concentration in apartments was 18.2 µg/m³, while the average PM2.5 concentration was 12.0 µg/m³. The average indoor/outdoor concentration ratio was 0.58 for PM10 and 0.68 for PM2.5. The final results of this project will support the development of recommendations aimed at reducing indoor air pollution in urban homes across Serbia.

Keywords:

Air quality, monitoring, suspended particles, measurement

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

This work is supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia pursuant to agreement № 451-03-137/2025- 03/200148 with the University of Niš, Faculty of Occupational Safety, and № 451-03-136/2025-03/200052 with the Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor and ERASMUS+ Jean Monnet Module “Workplace and Process Safety in Next Generation Europe - Teaching for Learning”. This work was co-funded by the Center for the Promotion of Science, under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia (Contract № 1383/24).

REFERENCES:
  • Božilov, A., Tasić, V., Živković, N., Lazović, I., Blagojević, M., Mišić, N., & Topalović, D. (2022). Performance assessment of NOVA SDS011 low-cost PM sensor in various microenvironments. Enviromental Monitoring and Assessment, 194, 595 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10290-7  
  • Gladović, A., Petrović, B., Vukelić, D., Buha Djordjević, A., Ćurčić, M., Đukić-Ćosić, D., Šoštarić, A., Antonijević, B., & Bulat, Z. (2023). Carcinogenic and human health risk assessment of children's and adults' exposure to toxic metal(oid)s from air PM10 in critical sites of the Republic of Serbia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(22), 61753–61765. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26375-w  
  • Diapouli, E., Chaloulakou, A., & Spyrellis, N. (2008). Indoor and outdoor PM concentrations at a residential environment, in the Athens area, Global NEST Journal, 10, 201-208. https://journal.gnest.org/sites/default/files/Journal%20Papers/201-208_553_Diapouli_10-2.pdf  
  • Pekey, B., Bozkurt, Z.B., Pekay, H., Dogan, G., Zararsiz, A., Efe, N. & Tuncel G. (2010). Indoor/outdoor concentrations and elemental composition of PM10/PM2.5 in urban/industrial areas of Kocaeli City, Turkey, Indoor Air, 20, 112-125. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2009.00628.x  
  • Radović, B., Tasić, V., Kovačević, R., Apostolovski-Trujić, T., Manojlović, D., Cocić, M., & Urošević, T. (2024). Chemical composition of PM10 in a classroom near the copper smelter in Bor, Serbia. Atmosphere, 15(8), 920. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15080920  
  • Ramachandran, G., Adgate, J. L., Pratt, G. C., & Sexton, K. (2003). Characterizing indoor and outdoor 15-minute average PM2.5 concentrations in urban neighborhoods. Aerosol Science and Technology, 37, 33–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/02786820300889   
  • Serbula, S., Kalinovic, T., Kalinovic, J., & Ilic, A. (2013). Exceedance of air quality standards resulting from pyro-metallurgical reduction of copper: A case study, Bor (Eastern Serbia). Environmental Earth Sciences, 68(7), 1989–1998. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1886-6  
  • Tasić, V., Kovačević, R., Maluckov, B., Apostolovski-Trujić, T., Cocić, M., Matić, B., & Šteharnik, M. (2017). The content of As and heavy metals in TSP and PM10 near copper smelter in Bor, Serbia. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 228, 230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3393-6  
  • Tasić, V., Kovačević, R., & Maluckov, B. (2013). Preliminary measurements of PM10 in apartments in Bor, Serbia. In Proceedings of the 4th International WeBIOPATR Workshop & Conference Particulate Matter: Research and Management (WeBIOPATR2013) (pp. 117–120). Belgrade, Serbia. ISBN 978-86-83069-40-8.  
  • Tasić, V., Maluckov, B., Apostolovski-Trujić, T., Kovačević, R., Živković, M., & Lazović, I. (2015). Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) Concentrations in Naturally Ventilated Offices in Bor, Serbia, Facta Universitatis, Series: Working and Living Environmental Protection, 12(3), 279-288. https://casopisi.junis.ni.ac.rs/index.php/FUWorkLivEnvProt/article/view/899/1054  
  • Tasić, V., Milošević, N., Kovačević, R., Jovašević-Stojanović, M., & Dimitrijević M. (2012). Indicative levels of PM in the ambient air in the surrounding villages of the copper smelter complex, Bor, Serbia. Chemical Industry & Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 18(4), 643–652. https://doi.org/10.2298/CICEQ111228109T  
  • Tasić, V., Milošević, N., Kovačević, R., & Petrović, N. (2010). The analysis of air pollution caused by particle matter emission from the copper smelter complex Bor (Serbia). Chemical Industry & Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 16(3), 219–228. https://doi.org/10.2298/CICEQ090909011T

© 2023 Faculty of Occupational Safety - Multimedia