Kosovo leads region with methane level in air

With his wife and two daughters, he lives in a settlement near the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) thermal power plant in Obilic, where air quality is low due to pollution from thermal power plants and waste deposits located near his home.

The reality he's facing every day worries Izet about his family's future.

I worry about the two girls who have to grow up here, in this polluted air. We smell his bad smell even when we dry our clothes. If I could, I'd be moving around around here by” tonight, he says. Radio Free Europe, adding that the option is also cities in the western part of Kosovo, away from KEK thermal power plants.

He says he suffers from air pollution for 12 years now, broadcasts Periscope.

“This has often started since 2013. I've also had breathing problems. When I was at the Community Centre of Family Medicine, I was told to make sure that I didn't get out too much, especially during the evening hours of”, he points out.

Thus, to avoid polluted air, he keeps his windows closed and does not leave his home when he does not have to.

The problem of polluted air affects a large number of citizens in Kosovo, especially in urban areas, where statistics point to high levels of harmful gases in the air.

Measures of the Kosovo Hydromethorological Institute emit high levels of dangerous health substances, such as carbon dioxide, monoxide and greenhouse gases.

And in addition to these pollutants, there is another secret and threatening public health enemy in Kosovo, which is methane. This gas, invisible and odorless, is released from waste deposits, thermal power plants and other polluting sources.

That's what data says. World Bank's latest report for climate change in the Western Balkans, where Kosovo ranks first in the region for the highest level of methane in the air, per capita resident in urban areas.

Why is Kosovo leading the Methan level in the air?

Environmental Education Professor Zecir Veseyaj says the main reasons why Kosovo is leading the Western Balkans in this direction are mismanagement with waste deposits, forest fires, the use of coal for heating and Obilic thermal power plants.

He adds that another disturbing factor is the large number of old cars that circulate in Kosovo.

“Nodming on urban environmental air pollution also has the transport sector, with approximately half a million cars and machinery on the streets of Kosovo”, he points out.

Meanwhile, from the institution that makes air quality monitoring in Kosovo, the Hydrometeorological Institute (IHMK), say they have no data on the current situation.

“We don't have data from monitoring, since we have so far not reached measurements for the method”, say IHMK.

However, this institute adds that, based on their experience, the main sources of methane are old coal mines and waste deposits.

Professor Zeqiray also expresses concern for waste deposits.

“carbon dioxide and methane make up about 90 percent of the emissions. However, other gases, such as ammonia, sulfides, amotic substances, hydrogen, and, with consequences to the public health of around”, he says.

Information about this subject has not provided Environmental Protection Agency.

However, according to Kosovo's Serra Gas Inventor, published over the past year, 86 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, including Metan, are said to come from the energy sector, while the rest of the agriculture, waste and industry.

KEK asked for the release of greenhouse gases from its thermal power plants and future strategies for improvement, but has received answers.

How does the methane affect health?

From the Kosovo National Public Health Institute (IKSHPK), they say the effects of the methane on health can be very serious and not just in breath.

We can have mood changes, vague speech, vision problems, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, facial rash and headache”, says IKSHPK's response.

And in areas where citizens have more contact with methane in the air, the ICHPK says the impact can be even more serious.

“could cause respiratory changes, exacerbate lung diseases, cause asthma attacks and heart rate, cardiovascular disease and mortality, and increase the risk of stroke, balance problems, numbness and unconsciousness”, say IKSHPK.

Based on this institution's air pollution report, there has been an increase in respiratory patients in Kosovo over the past year. About 6,500 visits to such problems were conducted at the University Clinical Hospital Service in Kosovo, of which 3,244 were children.

The World Health Organization describes Methane as the main gas affecting climate change and among the main causes of respiratory and cardiovascular health problems.

What is the solution to improving the situation?

According to Professor Veselaly, the priority should be the treatment of illegal waste deposits.

About half of the waste that ends up in Kosovo's storehouses are organic waste [such as food waste], which is also a source of methane. Practices of sharing or recycling of remains must be promoted”, he says, adding that this would affect the lowest level of organic waste through storage, and therefore lower metathan levels in the air.

Even the IKSHPK has some urgent requests for management of its methane resources in the air.

“urgently to take rigorous vehicle technical control measures, road maintenance, fair management of solid waste, transparent and continuous monitoring of thermal power filters”, the IKSHPK says.

Kosovo's Ministry of Environment, Space Planning and Infrastructure has not answered questions on the subject.

During this year's election campaign, ahead of the February 9th parliamentary elections, the state of the environment was not a key point of discussion. The parties they competed did not present detailed plans on how to address these problems.

Meanwhile, in the states of the European Union, where Kosovo intends to join one day, significant steps have been taken to manage Metan pollution.

Germany, for example, has implemented advanced technology for processing organic waste and recycling, reducing the methane level in the air.

Most EU states have invested in alternative sources for energy production such as solar, and non-use of coal in thermal power plants.