Air quality worsens in BiH as heating season begins


  • World
  • Saturday, 09 Nov 2024

SARAJEVO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- As temperatures drop and the heating season begins, cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are experiencing a significant decline in air quality.

Since early November, Sarajevo has been intermittently blanketed in toxic smog, ranking among the top five most polluted cities worldwide, according to IQAir, an international air quality monitor site.

On Friday, the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute in BiH reported that particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in Sarajevo have reached 160 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the standard of 50. Meanwhile, the concentrations of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have also surpassed safe limits.

In Banja Luka, another major city, the air quality index hit 187 this morning, placing it in the "unhealthy" category, according to local hydrometeorological services.

Biljana Lubarda, a professor of ecology at the University of Banja Luka, attributed the pollution mainly to seasonal heating demand and traffic. She recommended alternative heating methods, expanding green spaces with coniferous trees and moving toward a centralized heating system to reduce pollutants from burning coal, wood, and waste.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Trump aide Waltz says U.S. needs Ukrainian leader who wants peace
Turkey's Kurds say PKK militants heeding jailed leader's peace call is the right move
Israeli colonists storm Al-Aqsa Mosque on second day of Ramadan
Austrian liberals' vote removes last obstacle to coalition government
Ukraine condemns IAEA nuclear plant visit via Russian-occupied territory
Exclusive-Germany weighs special funds for defence and infrastructure, sources say
Russia praises Trump and scolds Europe for being the crucible of war
Cargo plane makes emergency landing at New Jersey airport after bird strike, engine fire
NGO's newspaper ad asks Americans for donations after Trump's drastic aid cuts
Oscars take the stage on Sunday with best picture up for grabs

Others Also Read