According to a report from the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency (, the country’s electricity and heat production were responsible for 91% of SOdos 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 (NOx) emissions were estimated to come from thermal power plants, along with the chemical and mineral industries. 5
How can coal plants affect Serbia’s contamination?
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 (NOx), with NOx 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 come Serbia’s coal contaminants compare with the remainder of Europe?
When you find yourself over the years, Europe enjoys long used coal stamina getting a substantial part of the opportunity also have, whilst still being really does promote too much ability to nations as well as Poland, the fresh Czech Republic, Bulgaria and you will Germany, regions into the European union (EU) are now actually quickening their changeover out of coal and to vacuum cleaner forms of renewable power. Based on top European opportunity analyst groups, coal incorporate to own energy age group one of many EU’s places stopped by an archive-breaking twenty-four% during 2019. 8 So far, so it rates regarding transition to help you machine opportunity wasn’t seen inside Serbia, as well as in facts unlike closing down coal flowers as much as Begrade, Serbia features continued to start new onesmentators note that showing an effective reduced change to machine energy contained in this Serbia might be a button need for the country in the event it really wants to get in on the Eu Commitment in the future. not, achieving this change might be a pricey procedure, having Serbia’s Financial Council alerting one to reversing the newest contamination caused by mines and you may electricity herbs sometimes pricing in your neighborhood away from €800 mil euros or significantly more than. six
What are the wellness aftereffects of Serbia’s air pollution?
Connection with air pollution can result in many wellness effects, mainly affecting the brand new breathing and you can cardio options. These types of consequences can vary of small-identity annoyances to help you adding to early death. Short-title wellness results of experience of contamination may include respiratory symptoms such cough, the latest annoyances out-of throat, nostrils and you can vision, and you may stress away from established attacks such asthma. Long-title results of contact with contamination could be more big, along with improved likelihood of development respiratory illness bra nettsted for example persistent obstructive pulmonary state (COPD), emphysema, lung cancer, the fresh new weakening away from established breathing requirements, and you may quicker lung mode development in pupils. Aerobic has an effect on of pollution range from changed cardiac autonomic means, blood pressure level, improved blood pressure level, myocardial infarction, coronary attack, and ischemic heart disease (IDH). 9