Air pollution problem surfaces in Western Balkan countries

As winter approaches, the problem of air pollution is beginning to surface in Western Balkan countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia are among the countries where the air pollution problem is most intense.

According to data shared by air quality technology company IQAir, many cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia are among the "cities with the highest air pollution in the world."

According to experts, air pollution caused by low-calorie fuels used for heating, in addition to exhaust gases from old-model cars, vans, and commercial vehicles in these countries, is also negatively affecting health.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the countries with the most polluted air in the world during the winter months. Air pollution, especially in major cities such as the capital Sarajevo, Tuzla, and Zenica, directly affects people's quality of life.

Experts state that air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be prevented by expanding the use of natural gas, reducing the use of solid fuels, and increasing oversight through legal regulations.

According to World Bank data, an average of 3,300 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina die prematurely each year due to causes related to air pollution. Thousands of people go to hospitals with complaints of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Air pollution particularly affects children and the elderly.

Anes Podic from the Eko Akcija Association in Sarajevo told an AA reporter that days are short and sunlight is scarce in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the winter months, and under these conditions, air pollution increases even more, especially in cities located in valleys.

Stating that air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a long history, Podic said, "Our problem is that we do not have an effective mechanism to protect the environment, the public, and nature. There are extraordinary examples of how these problems were solved in the past. However, at the moment, there is no progress beyond political declarations."

Podic stated that 200,000 out of approximately 700,000 households in Bosnia and Herzegovina use coal for heating, and the use of firewood is also common, adding, "The low quality of stoves used in homes is also a big problem. There are no standards in this area in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are no standards that would force manufacturers to produce more efficient, low-emission models."

Doctor Aida Vilic Svraka noted that air pollution leads to both short-term and long-term health problems.

Stating that pollution poses the greatest risk for health problems, Svraka assessed, "Fine particles pose the greatest health risk. These particles penetrate deep into the respiratory tract, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases as well as lung cancer."

Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, also frequently ranks high among the most polluted cities in Europe and the world.

Macedonian eco-activist, entrepreneur, and software engineer Gorjan Jovanovski, who works to raise awareness about air pollution, said the situation is alarming and that authorities must take immediate action.

Stating that he has been involved in the issue of air pollution for 10 years, Jovanovski said, "We are not at war, we are not in a state of war, but 5,000 people die every year due to polluted air."

Saying that this is not fog, but smoke mixed with fog, Jovanovski said, "This is something that enters our lungs and creates abnormal problems in human health, especially in those who are most at risk."

Jovanovski stated that the pollution in Skopje is further exacerbated by the city's natural geography located in a valley, which causes the pollution to get trapped in the region and not be easily cleared by the air.

Saying that changes are needed in many areas, from uncontrolled industry to the complete replacement of heating systems in households and state institutions, Jovanovski pointed out that issues such as public transport and waste management also need to be improved to reduce pollution.

Jovanovski drew attention to the fact that there are concrete measures that could reduce pollution, but the state is not taking the appropriate steps.

Providing information about the mobile application he developed years ago on this subject, Jovanovski explained that the application provides real-time pollution monitoring by collecting data from state measuring stations, volunteers, and satellites.

Jovanovski said, "The application was made so that we, as ordinary citizens, can have information about how polluted the air we breathe outside really is, to protect ourselves during periods when pollution is intense, not to go outside, not to sit with windows closed, and to wear masks."

Thanks to the application, which has gained international recognition in organizations such as Forbes, BBC, NASA, New York Times, and Washington Post, as well as magazines in Japan, Jovanovski won the European Young Innovator award in the youth under 30 category in 2020.

The Kosovo A and Kosovo B thermoelectric power plants near the capital Pristina, which were built between the 1960s and 1980s and produce approximately 90 percent of the electricity consumed in Kosovo, are cited as among the main factors of air pollution in the country.

UNICEF announced in a report it published that air quality in Kosovo is among the worst in Europe and that this is 25 times above the safety limit set for children by the World Health Organization.

Mentor Shala, who works as an air quality expert at the Kosovo Hydrometeorological Institute, said that his country does not have an air pollution problem on an annual basis, but that air quality is not good, especially in the winter months.

Stating that air quality begins to decline from October, when the air begins to cool and the public's need for heating increases, Shala said, "Based on our years of continuous monitoring experience, we have observed an improvement in air quality. However, when compared with the standards demanded by the European Union (EU), the air quality (in Kosovo) is still not in a good state."

Stating that there are 13 stations measuring air pollution across Kosovo, Shala conveyed that citizens can follow the data transmitted instantly from these stations on computers, phones, or screens placed in the squares of the capital Pristina.

While listing the factors causing air pollution in Pristina, Shala said, "The sources of pollution are the Kosovo A and Kosovo B thermal power plants, transportation, and small-scale combustion, which was not sufficiently considered for a long time but contributes significantly to air pollution."

Shala added that they expect an improvement in air quality in his country in the coming years with the measures that institutions and citizens have begun to take.

It was reported that in another regional country, Serbia, air pollution has reached a "dangerous" level with the arrival of winter months.

Warnings have been issued that air pollution, which resembles a dense fog cloud in many cities in the country, also negatively affects human health.

Experts stated that the level of air pollution in Serbia has decreased this year compared to previous years, and it was noted that improving air quality also plays an important role within the scope of the EU membership process.