Air pollution - State and impacts (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)

PM10

In recent years measured concentrations of PM10 in urban areas exceeded the limit values for daily and annual mean concentration as a result of production processes, combustion processes in industry, production of electricity and heat, road transport and the building industry.

Most exceedances are observed in the autumn and winter, most probably due to increased traffic and fossil fuel combustion, to meteorological conditions and the topographic location of the cities.

Figure 3 shows that annual average concentrations of PM10 are exceeding the limit – a mean annual concentration of 40 µg/m³ – in all cities where measurements are made. The highest mean annual concentrations recorded in the capital, Skopje, which is most probably due to life styles, density of population, and the high level of solid fuel used for household heating in the winter, as well as to industrial sources since the majority of industry is located in the capital.