Balkans Air Pollution Surpasses Beijing Levels

Winter particle pollution in the Balkans has reached the highest levels in Europe, frequently surpassing those recorded in Beijing, according to a new study. Researchers driving through Sarajevo in winter equipped with specialized sensors identified residential areas utilizing solid fuels such as wood and coal for heating as primary sources of this pollution.

Additional significant contributors to the poor air quality include aging vehicles and emissions from restaurant cooking, particularly in city centers. Experts note that while home heating is less of a factor in urban cores, cooking still adds a considerable burden to air pollution.

The research underscores the severe public health implications, with over 3,000 premature deaths annually in Bosnia and Herzegovina attributed to fine particle pollution, according to a 2019 World Bank Group report. Globally, PM2.5 was linked to approximately 4.14 million deaths in 2019, identified as the largest driver of the worldwide burden of disease from air pollution.

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter is associated with serious health conditions including ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and adverse birth outcomes. In response, governments are enacting policies to mitigate pollution. California's vehicle standards have cut PM2.5 by 65%, while over 200 European cities have implemented low-emission zones, leading to a 13% reduction in childhood asthma prescriptions in some cases.