Increased PM10 Concentrations in Air, 'Warning' Declared for Sarajevo Canton Area

(Patria) - Based on air quality monitoring and forecasted weather conditions, the Ministry of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton has declared a "Warning" episode for the area of Sarajevo Canton, with the application of intervention measures.

According to the report of the Expert Body for Coordination and Supervision of the Implementation of the Plan of Intervention Measures, the average daily values of polluting PM10 particles at the measuring sites Ilijaš, Otoka and Vogošća yesterday exceeded 90 micrograms per cubic meter, which is the threshold for declaring a "Warning" episode. At other automatic stations, except for Vijećnica, an exceedance of the average daily limit value for PM10 above 50 µg/m3 was recorded.

No increase in concentrations of other air pollutants is recorded.

Based on measured PM10 concentrations and weather conditions, air quality is also impaired this morning in most of the Canton, with no expectation of significant improvement during the day.

According to the synoptic forecast, today and for the next two days, precipitation in the form of rain and weak winds of variable direction, predominantly easterly and southeasterly, are expected, with temperature inversions in the morning and evening hours.
Considering the weather forecast, conditions exist for declaring a "Warning" episode in all zones foreseen for the implementation of the Plan of Intervention Measures.
Health recommendations for persons with chronic lung and heart diseases, as well as those prone to severe allergic reactions, the elderly, chronic stable patients, pregnant women, and young children are to avoid staying outdoors.

To prevent threats to human health, during this episode, public gatherings and outdoor sports activities are prohibited. The competent cantonal ministries and the inspection are responsible for implementing this measure. Also, children's stay outdoors, outside the school building during large and small breaks, and the holding of physical education classes in school yards are prohibited. The Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton is responsible for implementing this measure. It is also necessary to ensure the protection of workers working outdoors, for which the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs is responsible.

According to the Plan of Intervention Measures of Sarajevo Canton, during the "Warning" episode, all thermal energy production plants with a power over 50 kW that use solid and liquid fuels are obliged to reduce the temperature in the rooms they heat by at least 2°C. The implementation of this measure will be monitored by the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs.

Construction works outdoors that produce dust emissions into the air are also prohibited, which will also be controlled by the competent cantonal and municipal inspection.

The movement of cars and trucks whose engines have EURO2 standard or lower is prohibited in zone A.

One of the measures is also a traffic ban for motor trucks whose maximum permissible mass exceeds 3.5 tons, on the main city longitudinal route from Baščaršija to Nedžarići, with the redirection of traffic to alternative routes. This measure does not apply to public city transport vehicles, public utility companies, emergency vehicles, and delivery vehicles for food products.

It is also necessary to intensify supervision over the technical condition of vehicles from the standpoint of suspicion of excessive environmental pollution, in accordance with the Rulebook on Technical Vehicle Inspections, for which the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton is responsible.

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