Particulate matter in the air of cities in Belarus

  • Alexander M. Liudchik National Ozone Monitoring Research Centre, Belarusian State University
  • Aleksandr N. Akimov National Ozone Monitoring Research Centre, Belarusian State University
  • Alena A. Melnik Republican Сenter for Hydrometeorology, Control of Radioactive Contamination and Environmental Monitoring
  • Pavel N. Paulenka Belarusian National Technical University

Abstract

Some features of air pollution are analyzed based on data from automatic observation sites of Republican center for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and environmental monitoring on the content of particles in the air of regional cities of Belarus and the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve for the period 2012–2022. Average daily particle concentrations depend not only on the intensity of local pollution sources, but also on transportation from nearby and distant regions. Meteorological conditions therefore play a decisive role in the level of fine particle air pollution: they can contribute to the dispersion of particles emitted by local sources and the delivery from distant regions particles emitted into the air. The latter situations are relatively rare, but often connected with high levels of particulate air pollution. In Belarus, maximum monthly average particle concentrations are recorded mainly in the spring months. The cause of the spring maximum has not been identified. The highest levels of air pollution by particles are observed in Minsk and Gomel, which are also the leaders in gas pollution in Belarus. The lowest ones are in Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk and Mogilev. However, Brest ranks third after Gomel and Minsk in terms of gaseous air pollution. This confirms the findings of other publications that particle concentration cannot be a reliable estimate of overall air pollution. Noticeable changes (decrease) in particle concentration over the years were detected in Minsk at only one observation site. At other sites there have been no significant changes over the years. The same can be said about other regional cities with the exception of Brest, where in recent years an increase in particle concentrations in the ground air has been recorded.

Author Biographies

Alexander M. Liudchik, National Ozone Monitoring Research Centre, Belarusian State University

PhD (physics and mathematics), docent; head of the laboratory of atmospheric physics.

Aleksandr N. Akimov, National Ozone Monitoring Research Centre, Belarusian State University

PhD (physics and mathematics); senior researcher; head of the laboratory of automation.

Alena A. Melnik, Republican Сenter for Hydrometeorology, Control of Radioactive Contamination and Environmental Monitoring

lead chemical engineer at the department of environmental information.

Pavel N. Paulenka, Belarusian National Technical University

senior lecturer at the department of safety of technological processes in production.

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Published
2024-05-21
Keywords: particulate matter, meteorological conditions, anthropogenic air pollution
Supporting Agencies The authors are grateful to the employees of Belhydromet, who provided information for analysis and actively participated in its discussion.
How to Cite
Liudchik, A., Akimov, A., Melnik, A., & Paulenka, P. (2024). Particulate matter in the air of cities in Belarus. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology, 1, 82-92. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/ecology/article/view/6407
Issue
No 1 (2024): Journal of the Belarusian state university. Ecology
Section
Industrial and Agricultural Ecology