Environment

Sarajevo world’s most polluted city, poor air quality seen across Western Balkans

Foto: Wikimedia Commons/Julian Nitzsche

Published

December 4, 2018

Country

Comments

0

Share

Published:

December 4, 2018

Country:

Comments:

0

Share

The Sarajevo authorities could introduce measures to limit the use of cars, and are already urging individuals and businesses to cut down on the use of solid fuels and drive less. Air quality measurements by the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continued to show Sarajevo to be the world’s most polluted city earlier today.

According to air quality expert Martin Tais, Sarajevo has heightened levels of particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5, while Zenica’s top pollutant is SO2, local media reported, citing Tais’ Facebook profile.

The US Embassy measurements today were showing the Air Quality Index (AQI) of 386, marked “hazardous”, which stands for levels above 300, carrying the health alert that everyone may experience more serious health effects.

In Priština, the US Embassy’s measurements today were showing the AQI of 159, marked “unhealthy.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) previously published data concerning mean concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 for 2018, ranking Skopje, Macedonia as Europe’s most polluted capital city,

In terms of mean concentrations of both PM10 and PM2.5, the World Health Organization Ambient Pollution Database for 2018 ranks Skopje as Europe’s most polluted capital city, with PM2.5 values four times the recommended levels.

The Serbian Environmental Protection Agency’s (SEPA) data published on December 2 showed Niš and Valjevo to be the most polluted cities in the country over the preceding 24 hours. The average value of suspended particles and heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and nickel) stood at 184 micrograms per cubic meter in Valjevo and 154 micrograms per cubic meter in Niš.

Clean air values are those up to 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Heightened levels were also measured in Belgrade (80 micrograms), Novi Sad (71 micrograms), Subotica (76 micrograms), Smederevo (94 micrograms), and Bor (59 micrograms), N1 wrote, citing Beta.

Suspended particles are the product of internal combustion engines, industrial plants, burning solid fuels for heating, construction sites, and landfills.

Reducing emissions of coal-fired plants alone could save 6,460 lives annually

The emission reductions that need to be achieved in the Western Balkans could result in 6,460 saved lives each year, as well as saved health costs of up to EUR 2,724 million, according to data from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), published in late 2017.

Yearly, health costs could drop down from EUR 8,586 million to EUR 767 million. The implementation of new rules would mean reducing the number of deaths each year from 7,206 to 745, according to HEAL.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

International Day of Forests-Forests and innovation new solutions for a better world

International Day of Forests 2024 – Forests and innovation: new solutions for a better world

20 March 2024 - The 2024 International Day of Forests 2024 is all about innovations. They can help us restore, protect, and sustainably utilize our forests.

EU-Critical-Raw-Materials-Act-crma-looser-social-environmental-rules

EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act adopted with looser social, environmental rules

19 March 2024 - Pursuing strategic autonomy, the European Union put together the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) after a major delay in the last phase

global-recycling-day-2024

Global Recycling Day 2024 to celebrate #RecyclingHeroes

16 March 2024 - Global Recycling Day 2024 is putting the spotlight on people, places, businesses and activities that showcase the importance of recycling

Solar Startup Award 2024 Solar Materials recycling

Solar Startup Award 2024 goes to Solar Materials for recycling tech

07 March 2024 - The startup has developed a recycling technology that allows the recovery of raw materials from solar panels at a 98% rate