Public Health Institute gives proposals for air improvement

The National Institute of Public Health has announced that with high levels of air pollution in Kosovo, and separately in Pristina, short-term effects lead to increasing the number of patients with bronkial asthma, chronic bronquency, chronic lung obstructural diseases in procrastination, increasing the number of hospital admissions from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, life cuts, and increased mortality rates.

The Institute says that in the winter season, the city of Pristina has been immersed in smog, featuring combined pollution of gas and aerosole, which is widely seen.

“According to data from the Agency for Environmental Protection and the American Embassy, the values of the PM 2.5 are above the allowed values. The short-term effects of partisans on partisans lead to an increase in the number of bronkial asthma patients, chronic bonds, chronic lung obstructural diseases in later ages, increased hospital admissions from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, life cuts, and increased mortality rates. As potentially well-known sources are electric power plants, the use of heating in winter season, older vehicles and heavy traffic, increased fuel and solid fuels, burning waste, lack of sufficient green surfaces, no cleaning roads, construction all year without literal urban planning, presence of dust in the city.

Analyzing the current situation, the National Institute proposes strategic measures, starting with the urgent implementation of the action plan signed by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, then implementing national programmes and joint projects for the field of corruption.

“Health Intenspectorate Control daily reporting of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases from all primary, secondary and digestive health institutions (the QKMF Pristina and Emergency Clinic, SHSKUK)”, said in communiqués.

As specific measures, the Institute has proposed that environmental inspectors do rigorous control of air filters in thermal power plants during 24 hours, fuel quality, and the consumption of solid fuels used for citizen heating.

“Set up the number of buses with ecological fuel in public transport. Limit the arrival of cars from suburbs to the capital. Rygorous car control measures are urgently taken. The maintenance of roads and the proper management of solid waste. The permanent measurement of air pollution at key points in Kosovo and the daily presentation of online results. Individual measures (healthal events for the population) reduce the city's exits and in polluted air spots especially in the morning and evening, and especially those with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, children and pregnant girls; stay at home and don't open windows for room ventilation. Those who should inevitably go out in their activities outside the home should use protective masks or cover their mouth and nose with scarfs. To reduce smoking abroad where there is human circulation, and necessarily the ban on smoking within residential spaces, employment, schools and hospitals. Groups of endangered populations such as chronic pulmonary, heart, astmatic and allergic patients, elderly, young children, pregnant women are recommended to spend more time in environments with low levels of polluting, such as mountains and healthy resorts”, the institute's communique says.

National Institute experts warn and alarm that if emergency measures are not taken, there will be negative effects on health damage and increased mortality from all causes, especially cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, it will be disturbing.