Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the countries with the most polluted air in the world, and this problem causes the death of at least 3,300 people every year, according to data from the World Bank and the World Health Organization.
The World Bank approved a $50 million loan to Bosnia and Herzegovina last year to combat alarming air pollution, the media remind us.
According to UNICEF, 20 percent of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina suffer from respiratory problems due to poor air quality – from asthma to chronic respiratory diseases in school-age children, from seven to 10 years old.
Exposure to high concentrations of PM2.5 particles in the first years of life can slow down lung development and lead to reduced lung capacity.
According to data from the World Health Organization and the specialized portal AirVisual, in the capital Sarajevo in 2022 there were more than 120 days with exceeded recommended limit values for PM2.5 particles, and in winter the concentration of these particles is often ten times higher than allowed.
The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution reduces the life expectancy of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina by one to two years if they are exposed to it for a long time.
In the world, BiH has the third highest mortality rate due to air pollution per capita, behind India and Bangladesh.
The centers of pollution are Tuzla, Zenica and Sarajevo due to outdated industrial plants and the intensive use of coal for heating.
The Tuzla thermal power plant emits more than 50,000 tons of sulfur dioxide per year, which is more than the emissions of all thermal power plants in the EU countries combined.
Polluted air also leads to cardiovascular diseases, problems in neurological development and an increased risk of cancer.
If Bosnia and Herzegovina does not take urgent measures, it is predicted that by 2030 the number of deaths due to air pollution will increase to 4,000 per year.
The development of diseases due to air pollution can be prevented by reducing the use of coal for heating in households, increasing green areas in urban areas, improving public transportation and switching to clean energy sources, as well as air filtration in schools and kindergartens.
