KS: Air quality has worsened, intervention measures from the Warning episode are in effect

(Patria) - The Ministry of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton has declared the "Warning" episode for the KS area with the implementation of intervention measures aimed at protecting the health of the population and reducing emissions of pollutants into the air.

The air is polluted in most of the Canton, and the values of suspended particles exceed 90 micrograms per cubic meter of particles, which is the threshold for declaring the aforementioned episode, along with the announced weather conditions.

The concentrations of particles in the air have been increasing since last night, and the last measured values of this pollutant at 1:00 PM range from 129 micrograms per cubic meter in Ilijaš, 113 µg/m3 in Vogošća, 122 µg/m3 in Bjelave, and 85 µg/m3 at Vijećnica, 83µg/m3 at Otoka, and 72µg/m3 at Ilidža.

According to the synoptic forecast, sunny weather is expected today and for the next two days, with cloudiness on Wednesday evening and the possibility of light rain, as well as very weak wind of variable direction, and temperature inversions in the morning and evening. The forecasted atmospheric pressure and temperature in the coming days will not affect the formation of fog in the basin parts of Sarajevo Canton, so such weather can create the illusion that the concentrations of particles in the air are not elevated, even though the situation is the opposite.

The Sarajevo Canton Public Health Institute recommends that individuals with chronic lung and heart diseases, as well as those prone to severe allergic reactions, the elderly population, chronically stable patients, pregnant women, and young children avoid spending time outdoors.

Intervention Measures

1. To prevent endangering human health, public gatherings and outdoor sports activities are prohibited during this episode. Relevant cantonal ministries and the inspectorate are responsible for the implementation of this measure. The stay of children outdoors, outside the school building during breaks, and the conduct of physical education classes in schoolyards are also prohibited. The Ministry of Education and Science of Sarajevo Canton is responsible for the implementation of this measure. It is also necessary to ensure the protection of workers working outdoors, for which the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs is responsible.

2. According to the KS Intervention Measures Plan, during the "Warning" episode, all heating facilities with a capacity of over 50 kW that use solid and liquid fuels are obliged to reduce the temperature in the rooms they heat by at least 2ºC. The implementation of this measure will be monitored by the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs.

3. The execution of construction works in open spaces that produce dust emissions into the air is also prohibited, which will also be controlled by the competent cantonal and municipal inspectorate.

4. The movement of cars and trucks with engines of EURO2 standard or lower is prohibited in Zone A.

5. One of the measures is the prohibition of traffic for trucks with a maximum permissible mass of over 3.5 tons on the main city longitudinal route from Baščaršija to Nedžarići, with traffic being rerouted to alternative routes. This measure does not apply to public transport vehicles, public utility companies, emergency vehicles, and delivery vehicles for food products.

6. It is also necessary to intensify the supervision of the technical condition of vehicles in terms of suspected excessive environmental pollution, in accordance with the Rulebook on Technical Vehicle Inspections, for which the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton is responsible.

7. According to the Intervention Measures Plan, it is necessary, depending on the possibilities, to shift the start of working hours in order to relieve the capacity of public transport and city roads.