Pollution without end

Skopje, capital of Macedonia is the most polluted city in Europe. This majority of the pollution is in the air. In fact the particle count of pollutant beats all records in Europe, reducting the visibility drastically and creating nearly unbreathable air.

A chronic phenomenon in Macedonia

This pollution problem in Skopje has become particularly more frequent in winter. Because more and more people are heating their homes with wood stoves, and road traffic in this city is increasing, the problem is not abating. Additionally, the city sits at the bottom of a basin, which traps a higher concentration of fine particles. A chronic phenomenon in this country.

A much bigger problem

However, it is not only the city of Skopje that is affected by this air pollution in fact, four other cities in the Balkans are in the same situation. Nevertheless, they all have one thing in common: the heating of houses is based on the coal or lignite industry.

In the city of Skopje officials have recently recorded a concentration of fine particles of 500 micrograms per cubic meter of air which is 10 times the rate recommended by the WHO. Because of this excessive amount, fog is also increasing, preventing planes from landing. As a result, flights have been moved or even cancelled. The mayor of the city Petre Silegov has asked citizens to avoid leaving their homes because the air has become almost unbreathable.

In the streets, the few outgoing inhabitants try to protect themselves with masks, or even with scarves. According to locals it has become very difficult to see through the city because of the decreased visibility.

References:

Ferey, O., & AFP. (2017, décembre 15). La capitale de la Macédoine asphyxiée par la pollution. LEFIGARO. https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2017/12/15/01003-20171215ARTFIG00336-la-capitale-de-la-macedoine-asphyxiee-par-la-pollution.php

For the featured image: https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/press/pr2009/09env_p29f.htm