Sarajevo has once again found itself at the center of a public health and environmental emergency after being ranked the world’s most polluted city on two consecutive evenings by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir. In response, Sarajevo acts on air quality by issuing urgent warnings and imposing temporary restrictions to reduce harmful emissions. For days, the Bosnian capital was shrouded in dense fog and mist, raising pollution levels to dangerous levels and forcing officials to take measures to safeguard the city’s approximately 350,000 inhabitants. The episode focuses on long-standing structural issues related to traffic, home heating, and the city’s topography, all of which make Sarajevo especially vulnerable in winter.

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What Immediate Measures Did Authorities Introduce?

The Sarajevo canton government implemented emergency restrictions on the city’s most polluting activities to reduce pollution levels. These actions were intended to cut emissions during the period of high pollution swiftly.

Among the essential actions were:

• Traffic restrictions: Cars and trucks that do not adhere to European Union emission regulations, as well as trucks weighing more than 3.5 tons, are prohibited from entering the city.
• Construction restrictions: To reduce further dust and particulate matter entering the air, construction was not allowed in open spaces.
• Public safety measures: To reduce health risks for locals exposed to hazardous air, outdoor public gatherings were prohibited.

When the air quality deteriorated to dangerous levels due to stagnant weather, officials took action. These temporary measures are intended to reduce exposure while authorities monitor pollution levels as Sarajevo acts on air quality. Experts emphasize that these actions are reactive and do not adequately address the root causes of the city’s ongoing air quality problem.

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Why is Sarajevo’s Air Pollution So Severe?

Energy consumption, transportation patterns, and geography all contribute to Sarajevo’s pollution problem, which gets worse in the winter.

Among the main contributing factors are:

• Household heating: Coal and firewood are the primary sources of heat for almost 40,000 households. The environmental organization Eko Akcija claims that only 500 homes have gotten gas stoves as a result of international assistance.
• Vehicle emissions: Sarajevo has about 180,000 registered cars, many of which are outdated models with inadequate emission controls. An estimated 20% of fine particle pollution is caused by transportation.
• Temperature inversion: The city is vulnerable to temperature inversion because it is situated in a valley encircled by mountains. Smog can persist for days because of this phenomenon, which traps pollutants and cold air near the ground.

The levels of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) pollution in Bosnia are among the highest in Europe. The World Bank estimates that 50% of PM_2.5 pollution comes from burning solid fuels for household heating, with transportation accounting for a sizable share. Permitted PM_2.5 levels are surpassed more than 100 days a year, according to Enis Krecinic of the Hydro-Meteorological Institute.

The effects on health are severe. According to data from the World Health Organization, Bosnia ranks fifth worldwide for air pollution-related mortality. According to World Bank estimates, PM_2.5 pollution costs the nation more than 8% of its GDP and results in about 3,300 premature deaths per year. Long-term exposure raises the risk of lung cancer and is especially dangerous for youngsters, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic conditions, according to medical experts.

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