Sarajevo air was polluted 90% of time last winter

Daily air pollution thresholds were exceeded 90 percent of the time last winter in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital Sarajevo, according to preliminary results of a study on the distribution of air pollution sources in BiH.

The study focused on emissions of pollutants to the air from November 2020 to January 2021, and the levels were extremely high, Akta.ba reported.

Of note, these days Sarajevo is again among the most polluted cities in the world.

The chemical analysis of the particles will be used to list the biggest polluters and their emissions. The study was conducted simultaneously in six cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, Banja Luka, Brod and Bijeljina.

The study was prepared by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) with the help of local partners

The document was prepared by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) with the assistance of its leading project partner – the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) and research institutes from the region.

According to the analysis, based on the updated guidelines of the World Health Organization, daily values ​​of air quality exceeded prescribed limits 90 percent of the time.

Almost half of the harmful PM2.5 particles are caused by heating on wood, pellets, coal, and due to driving motor vehicles

The study will also list the main sources of the PM2.5-type particulate matter. Preliminary data indicate about 25 percent is produced by the combustion of wood and pellets for heating purposes compared to 20 percent from the combustion of coal for heating and driving motor vehicles.

A  source of about 25% of PM2.5 in BiH is in the neighbouring countries

Source of about 25 percent of PM2.5 in the air in BiH are in the surrounding countries, but also those further away. Individual events such as construction works or waste incineration have a prolonged effect on people. Construction affects air quality and people’s exposure for three months after the events take place, according to the study.

The final results of the study will be presented during the winter and spring of next year.

The study was one of the main activities of the project for improving air quality in BiH called IMPAQ.