Government Ignores Expert Warnings: No Life at Vijećnica, Pollution Value at 1000 Micrograms

According to measurement data published on the Institute for Public Health website from November until today, air pollution and PM 10 concentration values have increased nearly 10 times, with the highest values measured today at the mobile station Vijećnica, reaching as high as 1000 micrograms per cubic meter, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

The first warning for citizens was issued on November 16, 2016, recommending that movement and exposure be reduced to the minimum possible during this period of elevated concentrations.

For example, at that time the measured average daily PM10 concentration values were: semi-automatic station "Otoka" 159 µg/m3, automatic station "Vijećnica" 106 µg/m3, automatic station "Bjelave" 75 µg/m3.

The recommendations particularly apply to pregnant women, the elderly, preschool children, and chronic patients.

Measurements on December 5 show a further upward trend in PM10 concentrations at all monitored locations.

Automatic stations: Bjelave 134 µg/m3, Vijećnica 130 µg/m3, Otoka 168 µg/m3, Ilidža 169 µg/m3.

Recommendations for the population are to reduce movement and exposure to the minimum possible during this period of elevated concentrations, especially during morning and evening hours. The recommendations particularly apply to pregnant women, the elderly, preschool children, and chronic patients.

Even this was not enough for the authorities to take measures to overcome the evident crisis, and they waited until Saturday, December 24, when measurements at Vijećnica showed 337 µg/m3, Ilidža 494 µg/m3, and Otoka 442 µg/m3.

The Government of the Sarajevo Canton introduced an odd-even vehicle traffic measure, which was already lifted on the afternoon of December 26 because it yielded no results. Furthermore, there are no clear further measures, and the authorities are looking to the sky, hoping for wind, rain, or snow. They have been deaf to warnings from professionals and experts for years. And this is the result: collective pollution and danger for all residents of Sarajevo.

The Institute for Public Health notes that the values are extremely high. Exposure to exceptionally high concentrations can have serious negative health consequences not only for vulnerable population groups but also for the health of the healthy population.