Reduced movement recommended in Sarajevo due to air pollution

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Expert Body for Coordination and Supervision of the Intervention Measures Plan in cases of excessive air pollution in Sarajevo Canton announces that exceeding the tolerant values of PM10 particulate matter concentrations in the air has been recorded at all automatic stations for measuring air pollutants in the Sarajevo Canton area.

The average values of these pollutants in the air recorded this morning at the Vijećnica automatic station were 38 μg/m3, at the Otoka station 194 μg/m3, and at the Ilijaš station 202 μg/m3. Repairs are underway for a malfunction at the mobile automatic station - Ilidža, due to which information from this measuring station is currently unavailable.

During yesterday, the exceeded average daily PM10 values recorded at the Vijećnica automatic station were much higher, amounting to 269 μg/m3, at the Otoka station they were 242 μg/m3, and 264 μg/m3 at the Ilijaš station. According to this, a decrease in PM10 particle concentrations is recorded at all measuring stations, but these values are still high.

No exceeding of tolerant values was recorded for other monitored pollutants.

As stated by the Expert Body, according to the provisions of the Intervention Measures Plan in cases of excessive pollution in Sarajevo Canton, conditions for declaring one of the episodes from the aforementioned plan are not currently met.

"Given that the weather forecast for the next three days predicts a significant increase in temperature and light precipitation, it is predicted that emissions from domestic heating will decrease, as will PM10 concentrations. It is necessary to intensify activities on cleaning the main city roads and other traffic routes in the Sarajevo valley by KJKP 'Rad', as well as for all municipalities to contribute to dust removal from roads within their jurisdiction, in order to prevent its re-entry into the atmosphere.

Recommendations for the population are to limit outdoor movement during this period of elevated PM10 concentrations, and this particularly applies to pregnant women, the elderly, preschool children, and chronically ill individuals who are most negatively affected by such polluted air.

Citizens and legal entities are urged to reduce the use of solid fuels and car usage as much as possible," the Expert Body states.

Measured values of monitored pollutants, as well as the latest information regarding air quality, can be followed on the website "kvalitetzraka.ba". The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the Public Institution Institute for Public Health of Sarajevo Canton, will continue to conduct continuous measurements and inform citizens about any changes.