ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of the COVID-19 Quarantine Measures
on PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 Concentration Levels
in Serbia
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Department of Environmental Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health, Faculty of Technical Sciences,
University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 6, Novi Sad, Serbia
Submission date: 2021-08-31
Final revision date: 2022-02-09
Acceptance date: 2022-03-21
Online publication date: 2022-05-30
Publication date: 2022-07-12
Corresponding author
Dragan Adamović
Department of Environmental Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health, Faculty of Technical Sciences
University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(4):3509-3521
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ABSTRACT
The first case of COVID-19 infection in Serbia was confirmed in early March 2020. State of
Emergency was declared soon afterward, imposing shelter in place measures and curfew in the evening
hours. A number of countries around the world have experienced air quality improvements during the
pandemic, caused by the mandatory quarantine. This study aims to analyze the effect of the quarantine
on the air quality, by comparing PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 concentration levels during 32 days quarantine
period in the six cities in Serbia, from March 16 to April 16, 2020, with values obtained in the same
period in 2019. NO2 concentration levels showed significant reductions in all cities (36-71%). However,
PM2.5 and PM10 concentration levels did not show significant reductions in all cities. Concentration levels
of PM2.5 and PM10 were lower during the quarantine period only in two cities, by 2 and 19%, and 10 and
30% respectively. Analyzed values can assist decision-makers in defining the levels of effort and scope
of actions that need to be undertaken in order to prevent the occurrence of high levels of concentration
of PM2.5 and PM10 and to ensure clean and healthy air in Serbia.