The Sarajevo Canton Winter Field Campaign 2018 (SAFICA) was a project that took place in winter 2017–2018 with an aim to characterize the chemical composition of aerosol in the Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which has one of the worst air qualities in Europe. This paper presents the first characterization of the metals in PM₁₀ (particulate matter aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm) from continuous filter samples collected during an extended two-months winter period at the urban background Sarajevo and remote Ivan Sedlo sites. We report the results of 18 metals detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The average mass concentrations of metals were higher at the Sarajevo site than at Ivan Sedlo and ranged from 0.050 ng/m³ (Co) to 188 ng/m³ (Fe) and from 0.021 ng/m³ (Co) to 61.8 ng/m³ (Fe), respectively. The BenMAP-CE model was used for estimating the annual BiH health (50% decrease in PM_2.5 would save 4760+ lives) and economic benefits (costs of $2.29B) of improving the air quality. Additionally, the integrated energy and health assessment with the ExternE model provided an initial estimate of the additional health cost of BiH’s energy system.

Air pollution is recognized as one of the most serious public health issues worldwide and was declared to be a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths. At the same time, the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay serves as a cancer predictive method that is extensively used in human biomonitoring for populations exposed to environmental contamination. The objective of this cross-sectional study is two-fold: to evaluate genomic instability in a sample (N = 130) of healthy, general population residents from Zagreb (Croatia), chronically exposed to different levels of air pollution, and to relate them to air pollution levels in the period from 2011 to 2015. Measured frequencies of CBMN assay parameters were in agreement with the baseline data for the general population of Croatia. Air pollution exposure was based on four factors obtained from a factor analysis of all exposure data obtained for the examined period. Based on the statistical results, we did not observe a significant positive association between any of the CBMN assay parameters tested and measured air pollution parameters for designated time windows, except for benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) that showed significant negative association. Our results show that measured air pollution parameters are largely below the regulatory limits, except for B[a]P, and as such, they do not affect CBMN assay parameters’ frequency. Nevertheless, as air pollution is identified as a major health threat, it is necessary to conduct prospective studies investigating the effect of air pollution on genome integrity and human health.

Atmospheric bulk and wet deposition samples were collected simultaneously at the background coastal site in the Eastern Middle Adriatic region in order to assess the impact of major ions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) on deposition acidity and distinguish the main sources. Higher ion levels were observed during the cold period, especially for Cl⁻, Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺. Dust intrusion caused significant increases in levels of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺, while open-fire events increased the levels of K⁺. Deposition acidity showed seasonal differences as well as the influence of dust intrusion. Low ionic balance ratios indicated acidic deposition properties and the presence of organic anions. The highest neutralization ability was found for Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and NH₄⁺. Several natural (marine, crustal) and anthropogenic sources were determined, as well as the formation of secondary aerosols. Wet deposition was characterized by higher contribution of sea salt fraction compared to bulk deposition and lower contribution of crustal fraction.

More than eight million premature deaths annually can be attributed to air pollution, with 99% of the world’s population residing in areas below recommended air quality standards. Hence, the present study aimed to examine the association between primary DNA damage and air pollution data among 123 participants enrolled between 2011 and 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia. While most measured air pollutants adhered to regulatory limits, benzo[a]pyrene concentrations bound to PM₁₀ exceeded them. Factorial analysis narrowed down air pollution data to four exposure factors (particulate matter, two metal factors, and other pollutants). Despite the absence of significant positive associations between modeled air pollution exposure factors and comet assay descriptors (tail length, tail intensity, tail moment, and highly damaged nuclei), the critical health implications of air pollution warrant further investigations, particularly with biomarkers of exposure and different biomarkers of effect in populations facing air pollution exposure.

Understanding how atmospheric pollutants interact with soil pollution is essential for assessing long-term environmental and human health risks. This study compares concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in PM₁₀ and surface soil near air quality monitoring stations in Zagreb, Croatia. While previous work identified primary emission sources affecting PM₁₀ composition in the area, this study extends the analysis to investigate potential pollutant transfer and accumulation in soils. Multivariate statistical tools, including correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), were employed to gain a deeper understanding of the sources and behavior of pollutants. Results reveal significant correlations between air and soil concentrations for several PTEs and PAHs, particularly when air pollutant data are averaged over extended periods (up to 6 months), indicating cumulative deposition effects. Σ11PAH concentrations in soils ranged from 1.2 to 524 µg/g, while mean BaP in PM₁₀ was 2.2 ng/m³ at traffic-affected stations. Strong positive air–soil correlations were found for Pb and Cu, whereas PAH associations strengthened at longer averaging windows (3–6 months), especially at 10 cm depth. Seasonal variations were observed, with stronger associations in autumn, reflecting intensified emissions and atmospheric conditions that facilitate pollutant transfer. PCA identified similar pollutant groupings in both air and soil matrices, suggesting familiar sources such as traffic emissions, industrial activities, and residential heating. The integrated PCA approach, which jointly analyzed air and soil pollutants, showed coherent behaviour for heavier PAHs and several PTEs (e.g., Pb, Cu), as well as divergence in more volatile or mobile species (e.g., Flu, Zn). Spatial differences among monitoring sites show localized influences on pollutant accumulation. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the value of coordinated air–soil monitoring in urban environments and provides an understanding of pollutant distributions across different components of the environment.