Decrease in airborne PAH concentrations in Krakow after intensified actions aiming to ban use of solid fuels for domestic heating

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Epidemiological studies have confirmed the harmful effects of high concentrations of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on health. Krakow has been struggling with high levels of these pollutants for many years, but is also a first city in Poland which announced ban of using solid fuels. The act was published in January 2016 with 3-year transition period during with intensified public campaign, subsidies for replacing the individual heating sources, ban on the use of wet wood and coal of poor quality (2017) and shield programs for the poorest after replacing old coal stove were introduced. The aim of this study was to describe the changes of airborne PAH levels in the heating season (November to March) over two winter seasons ( 2015/16 and 2018/19). METHODS: The airborne PAH were monitored outside 60 flats at the same places in two winter seasons as part of the cohort study