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Pollution in the Western Balkans is the highest in Europe
2026-01-27 09:11:50 / EKONOMI&SOCIALE
When we think of the world's most polluted cities, images of Delhi or Beijing come to mind, but new data has revealed acute pollution problems closer to the heart of Europe.
A study published by the British newspaper The Guardian finds that particulate pollution in the Western Balkans is the highest in Europe.
Pollution levels in this region are even considered to be among the highest in the world. Carbon dioxide in winter in the Balkan countries turns out to be over 30 times greater than what we normally see in Western Europe.
One of the most difficult parts of the study was the environmental experts spending a lot of time in traffic, driving on the narrow roads up and down the hills of the Bosnian capital. Some evenings were noticeably foggy in the west. There was a distinct smell of wood and coal smoke in the residential areas.
The team examined a portion of the particulate pollution mix, which exceeded the World Health Organization's daily guideline 66% of the time and was often more than eight times higher.
The most polluted places were residential areas, where air pollution was dominated by home heating, including the burning of wood, coal and waste, along with high levels of cancer-causing hydrocarbons. An aging fleet of vehicles has added to the Bosnian capital's pollution problems.
The average vehicle in Sarajevo is 19 years old, while in the United Kingdom cars are on average 10 years old.
To get out of this emergency situation, experts have recommended to Bosnian authorities the insulation of houses, central heating, and the reduction of the use of stoves in nine priority areas of Sarajevo.
These plans are needed to reduce solid fuel heating in those areas by 90% by 2033.
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