Despite clear and sunny weather in Bosnia and Herzegovina, air quality remains very unhealthy in many cities across the country. The situation is particularly severe in the capital, Sarajevo, where as of 2:00 PM, the air has been classified as hazardous to the population.
At 2:00 PM, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Sarajevo measured 325, with PM10 particle concentrations reaching 318 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³).
PM10 particles are named for their size, being smaller than 10 micrometers. For comparison, a human hair is about 100 micrometers thick. While larger particles are typically filtered out in the nose, PM10 particles can penetrate deep into the lungs.
PM10 particles can consist of various substances but are unified by their size. They are a mixture of smoke, soot, dust, acid, and heavy metals.
Air quality is considered excellent when PM10 levels are between 0 and 20 µg/m³, according to experts. It remains good up to 40 µg/m³, acceptable up to 50 µg/m³, and polluted above this threshold.
The air quality was also exceptionally poor in other areas on Thursday, including Ilijas, Maglaj, and Tesanj. At 2:00 PM, the AQI in Ilijas was 263, while Maglaj and Tesanj recorded AQIs of 218 and 214, respectively.
Under such conditions, individuals with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, may experience significant worsening of symptoms and disease intensity. The likelihood of adverse respiratory effects increases for the entire population.
People with lung and heart diseases, pregnant women, children, and the elderly are advised to avoid outdoor activities. Everyone else should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion, according to EcoAction, an organization that monitors and reports on air quality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In other regions, air quality is reported as unhealthy or moderately polluted, including Visoko, Zenica, Kakanj, Mostar, and Jajce.
The only area with good air quality today is Bihac, where the AQI at 2:00 PM was 50.
Air quality data in Bosnia and Herzegovina is collected from official monitoring stations. Some are managed by the FBiH Hydrometeorological Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina, others by the Sarajevo Canton Public Health Institute, the Tuzla Canton authorities, and the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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