Based on the weather forecast and the state of air quality, the Ministry of Municipal Economy, Infrastructure, Physical Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of the Sarajevo Canton declared today a “Warning” episode for the area of the Sarajevo Canton, with the application of intervention measures.
An increase in the concentration of polluting PM 10 particles is recorded at all measuring stations in the Sarajevo Canton, and the announced weather conditions will favor poor air quality in the coming days, according to the report of the Expert Body that made the proposal for declaring the Warning.
Health recommendations for people 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 are to avoid being outdoors.
“Currently, all measuring stations are recording a further increase in pollutants, which indicates that the averages will be higher during the day compared to the previous day, and that a Warning episode should be declared for the zones that had an average very close to the Warning episode limit yesterday, but did not exceed it. Also, the current synoptic situation indicates stable weather without wind or the occurrence of very weak winds from the south and southeast at a speed of 1-2 m/s, with the occurrence of temperature inversion in the morning and evening hours. A similar weather situation is expected in the next 48 hours and longer, characterized by the occurrence of temperature inversion in the morning and evening hours and weak winds, predominantly from the south and southeast. The unfavorable situation in terms of air quality should persist over the next few days, which indicates the possibility of further and relatively rapid accumulation of pollutants,” the Expert Body’s proposal for declaring the episode was explained.
During this episode, movement in zone A of cars and trucks, whose engines have the EURO2 standard or lower, is prohibited. One of the measures is the ban on traffic for trucks, whose maximum permissible mass is over 3.5 tons, on the main longitudinal direction of the city from Baščaršija to Nedžarići, with traffic being redirected to alternative directions of movement.
Construction work in open spaces is also prohibited. All thermal energy production plants, with a capacity of over 50 kW, that use solid and liquid fuels are required to reduce the temperature in the rooms they heat by a minimum of 2ºC. It is also necessary to ensure the protection of workers working in open spaces.
Starting tomorrow, other measures will also be implemented, which include the ban on children staying in open spaces, outside school buildings during long and short breaks, and holding physical education classes in school yards.
