Major Bosnian cities facing "unhealthy" air quality

Banja Luka was the most polluted city with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 172, while the AQI in Brod and Tuzla was 162 and 155, respectively.

Health advisory for polluted areas

In these highly polluted cities, individuals with heart and respiratory diseases, such as asthma, may experience an increase in symptoms and the intensity of their illnesses. All other residents could begin to feel negative health effects from the pollution.

Lung and heart patients; pregnant women; children; and elderly persons are strongly advised to reduce any outdoor activities.

All other citizens should also avoid prolonged or heavy exertion while spending time outdoors.

Unhealthy for sensitive groups in other cities

In most other locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina where monitoring stations are installed, the air quality is currently deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups of the population.

Specifically, the Air Quality Index for the capital, Sarajevo, was 140, while Zenica was 106, and Lukavac and Kakanj were 101.

In these cities, sensitive groups, including those with respiratory and heart diseases, the elderly, pregnant women, and children, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. All other citizens should also limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Moderately polluted and good air quality areas

Air quality is moderately polluted in Prijedor (AQI 98) and Vogosca (AQI 96), and in Bihac, Zivinice, and Hadzici (AQI 72).

The best air quality is currently recorded in Mostar, Ivan-sedlo, Jajce, and Trebinje, where the pollution index is good, specifically 13.

The Air Quality Index is calculated based on the measurement of particles (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. PM stands for "particulate matter," which are very tiny particles invisible to the naked eye, where the number indicates their size.