One of the most critical issues of urban air quality in Europe, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, is the frequent incidence of high levels of respirable particulate matter (PM10/PM2.5). Direct links exist between exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter and cardiovascular and respiratory premature deaths, as well as increased sickness, such as childhood respiratory diseases. Air pollution as a whole, as well as particulate matter as a separate component of the air pollution mixture, is currently classified by the World Health Organization as carcinogenic. Furthermore, the specific hazard associated with particulate matter is generally linked to the presence of toxic metals and hundreds of carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic organic compounds. Conventional sources of primary particulate matter such as engine exhausts and industrial processes are reasonably well regulated, and, except for a few "super" emitters such as the existing stock of coal-fired heating appliances, contribute relatively little to urban air pollution. In winter, however, when most breaches of air quality standards (and in particular PM limit values) occur, burning of solid waste in households represents a substantial source of hazardous particulate matter not only in cities but also in small settlements. Policy makers estimate that thousands of tons of plastic, clothing, combustible construction waste, paints, and litter end up in residential stoves. Waste burning generates extremely large amounts of PM emissions in residential areas, exposing millions of people to very high concentrations of extremely hazardous particulate matter, even before the effects of the associated gaseous emissions are taken into account. Soot particles loaded with lead, mercury, chromium, barium, cadmium and other toxic metals, pesticides, phthalates, isocyanates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are emitted in large amounts, causing adverse acute and chronic health effects in human beings, particularly in sensitive population groups. This issue is especially critical in poverty-stricken districts and regions but, due to the nature of atmospheric pollution and prevalent meteorological conditions in wintertime, affects vast areas under unfavourable conditions. A severe loss of GDP is expected due to the impact of solid waste smoke on the health of large populations, including associated losses in labour productivity, as well as increases in health care costs. Therefore, an in-depth analysis of the magnitude of the problem is required, along with the identification of means to reduce its impact. The objective of the study is to investigate the contribution of waste burning to air quality and to examine the spatial distribution of potential waste burning sources in several locations in Hungary and Romania, by means of mobile measurements and the analysis of tracer compounds in collected samples. Based on the spatial distribution of potential waste burning sources, the link between waste burning and poverty, as well as economic activity in the area, will be investigated.