Bosnian Capital Chokes “In Own Category” of Air Pollution

The Swedish embassy to Bosnia, a long-time advocate of tougher air pollution action in the country, tweeted that Sarajevo was "in a category of its own" as the air pollution levels on Saturday were so high that categorizing the health hazard level made no sense. It called for urgent action.

Unfortunately, on planet Earth #Sarajevo is now in a category of its own when it comes to bad air quality. Urgent action is required. We will continue our support in the envi sector. #SwedenInBiH @UNDPBiH @hbs_sarajevo @vladaks_ pic.twitter.com/YvwKudwlL9

— Sweden in BiH (@SwedenBiH) January 11, 2020

In a bid to control levels of fine particle pollution, the Sarajevo Canton has banned diesel vehicles from the city centre. The Cantonal government also recommended use of protective masks outdoors.

That recommendation, however, was met criticism on social media, as some noted that the government has not purchased such masks for city workers who have to work outside whatever the pollution levels, such as police and public transport workers.

The Sarajevo city authorities, whose public enterprise runs the Trebevic cable car, have lowered the price of cable car tickets at weekends, encouraging people to spend more time breathing fresh mountain air above the thick layer of smog blanketing the city. The discount will run until March 1.

Mountain Trebevic. Photo: FENA

As weather conditions in the capital are expected to remain stable in the coming days, the authorities have warned that air pollution levels will likely remain high.

Sarajevo is not the only Bosnian city battling severe small particle pollution this month. Ilijas, some 13 kilometers north-east from Sarajevo, was the most polluted place in the whole...