Air pollution, serious threat to the health of Kosovo citizens

Air pollution outside the allowed values in the winter season has prompted officials of the National Institute of Public Health in Kosovo to alert patients to increased cases at the University Clinical Centre in Kosovo. Antigona Ukhramaj, from this institution, told Radio Kosovo that the state of air quality and most specifically in Pristina is disturbing.

The “The measures that we've done at the monitoring points, three days ago we've had enough overcoming, but even two nights ago, according to the American Embassy air has been unhealthy. Measures have reached as many as 306, according to air-ceality control”.

But Ilir Morina chief chief of the Environmental Protection Agency denies that.

We are in that quota of 100 to 133 microns per cubic metre which means we are in the moderate area”, he said.

Pulmologist Skender Bacaj denies that there is an increase in cases at the University Clinical Centre in Kosovo.

“One of the most frequent elements of chronic tank as well as ames is environmental pollution, but not to the extent of being alarmed in the media or in our public opinion. The situation is not as alarming as to environmental pollution”, he said.

According to the Kosovo Public Health Institute monitoring, short-term effects of pollution have increased the number of patients, Ukhramaj said. According to her, relevant institutions have not taken concrete steps to improve this situation.

“The data leads to an increase in the number of patients with bronquial asem, but simultaneously this year we are also facing increased hospital admissions from cardio-vascular and aspiring diseases at QKUK. But, however, the consequences of air-slowing have to do with cutting the life span of a capital increase of”, he said.

Ilir Morina from the Agency for Environmental Protection says it is now impossible to take short-term measures in the winter season because capital investments must be made.

We've been trying to inform the population of the most coaled wood exchange in some areas, in some collective institutions. Unfortunately, however, municipal companies are sleeping and have taken no form that we have sent to you and most measures to undertake are not the competence of the environment ministry. Of course we have business as minister. to stop the operation of the Kosova B thermal power plant, but you know the problem with energy supply and what the import of energy is costing”, he said.

Even though the country's institutions are aware of this problem, the situation is continuing to be the same each year, officials from the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo have said.