According to a report from the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency (, the country’s electricity and heat production were responsible for 91% of SO₂ emissions. Particulate matter pollution was predominantly emitted from heating plants with less than 50 megawatts capacity and households, with these contributing 57% of PM10 and 75% of PM2.5 emissions. Alternatively, the largest sources of nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions were estimated to come from thermal power plants, along with the chemical and mineral industries. 5

How can coal flowers connect with Serbia’s air pollution?

Serbia’s dependence on lignite and coal power for its electricity production is one well-known cause of the country’s air pollution. As large burners of fossil fuels, coal plants provide one of the most environmentally polluting sources of energy available, contributing significantly to both ground-level air pollution that affects people’s health, as well as carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate global heating and climate change. Serbia relies on lignite-fuelled power plants for around 70% of its electricity production. 6 Lignite is a poor-quality form of coal, partway between the geological transition from peat to hard coal, which emits around double the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions produced by natural gas for the same amount of energy output.

In terms of human health, coal power plants can emit a range of harmful pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen-oxides (NO_x), with NO_x contributing indirectly to the formation of ozone pollution. Of these, the pollutants of most pressing health concern are PM and ozone. A study by the Serbian Tax Council in 2019 found that of the state-owned energy company, Elektroprivreda Srbije, or Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS)’s managed thermoelectric plants within the country, none met all of the national and European environmental standards for such plants. 7 Furthermore, the study found that all EPS’ plants’ sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions in Serbia exceed the total amount of SO₂ emitted by all of the lignite plants in the European Union combined, while also producing ten times less electricity than the EU plants. 7

How does Serbia’s coal toxic contamination compare with the rest of Europe?

While you are usually, Europe keeps enough time used coal fuel to possess a substantial part of the time also provide, and still really does render a lot of capacity to places and Poland, the fresh Czech Republic, Bulgaria and you may Germany, places from inside the Eu (EU) are now quickening their transition out-of coal and vacuum different renewable power. According to top Western looking for Oklahoma, PA wife european energy specialist organizations, coal incorporate getting strength generation among the EU’s places stopped by accurate documentation-cracking 24% through the 2019. 8 Up to now, that it rate off changeover so you can vacuum times wasn’t viewed for the Serbia, as well as in reality in place of closing off coal flowers to Begrade, Serbia has went on to open up the new onesmentators observe that demonstrating a less changeover in order to vacuum cleaner energy inside Serbia will be an option dependence on the world in the event it desires get in on the European Relationship in the future. not, doing this transition could be an expensive process, that have Serbia’s Fiscal Council caution you to definitely reversing the new contaminants considering mines and strength plant life tends to pricing in the region of €800 billion euros or over. 6

Which are the health ramifications of Serbia’s air pollution?

Contact with air pollution can result in numerous health outcomes, generally impacting the fresh breathing and cardio options. These types of consequences vary out of short-identity annoyances to adding to early demise. Short-title wellness results of contact with air pollution may include respiratory episodes like coughing, the fresh frustration off mouth, nose and eyes, and you will frustration from existing symptoms for example symptoms of asthma. Long-title negative effects of connection with contamination can be more big, together with enhanced likelihood of developing respiratory disorder instance chronic obstructive pulmonary situation (COPD), emphysema, cancer of the lung, new worsening from current respiratory standards, and you can less lung form development in children. Aerobic impacts off contamination can include changed cardiac autonomic setting, hypertension, improved blood pressure levels, myocardial infarction, coronary attack, and you may ischemic heart problems (IDH). 9