AIR QUALITY IN THE TOWN OF BIJELJINA - TRENDS AND LEVELS OF SO2 AND NO2 CONCENTRATIONS.

The paper presents results of the measurements of the sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentration and meteorological parameters: temperature, air pressure, relative humidity and wind speed. The data were collected from January 2019 to December 2020 at two stations, namely Center and Heating plant, in the City of Bijeljina, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. SO₂ and NO₂ are one of the major air pollutants that could negatively affect the human health. Levels of SO₂ and NO₂ in air samples and meteorological variables from urban zone of Bijeljina were determined at both localities, which represent a highly-populated area with intensive traffic. This topic has not been studied up to now in Bijeljina, although the recent research data indicates that there is a correlation between meteorological parameters and air pollutants. Statistical analysis confirms direct corelation between SO₂ and NO₂ and meteorological parameters, specially temperature in locality Center (r = -0.639), the wind speed in locality Heating plant (r = 0.399) and relative humidity (r = 0.162). Correlation of NO₂ with temperature is not confirmed in both localities. The wind speed increase is followed by rises of the NO₂ concentration values and vice versa. Correlation of NO₂ with pressure is confirmed in locality Center (r = 0.128) but it is not confirmed in locality Heating plant. Correlation between NO₂ and relative humidity found to be negative in locality Center (r = -0.062). These parameters are the most important meteorological factors influencing the variation in SO₂ and NO₂ concentration in the air during the research. Depending on the obtained correlation, meteorological parameters had a positive or negative impact on air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]