Approximately 9,500 citizens die every year in London because of long-term exposure to pollution. Premature deaths come as a result of two main pollutants: tiny particles known as PM2.5 that make up smog and are released by different pollutants, like power plants, burned coal, etc.; and toxic gas, known as nitrogen dioxide, NO2.
This data were published in a report in July 2015, by researchers at King’s College London. Additionally, in 2015, Italian metropolitan areas like Milan and Rome were forced to halt traffic completely so as to reduce toxic gases and smog to moderate levels; primary schools were temporarily closed and citizens, particularly those that suffered from respiratory illnesses and older people, were advised to stay at home or wear masks when outside.
In January 2013, the World Bank Office in Prishtina published a report titled “An Analysis of the Environment in Kosovo,” which gave alarming indications. Firstly, the report analyzed spending that Kosovo attributes to pollution. It highlighted that “the cost that the state of Kosovo pays for pollution in urban areas, especially for the influence of pollution on health, through tiny particles that increase cardio-pulmonary and respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis etc.), as well as lung cancer from long-term exposure to pollution, reaches 38 to 163 million euros (or 0.90 to 3.88 percent of Kosovo’s GDP).”
Secondly, the World Bank report predicts alarming statistics related to the effect of air pollution on the health of Kosovar citizens, noting “air pollution is foreseen to cause 852 premature deaths, 318 new cases of chronic bronchitis, 605 cases of hospitalization and 11,900 emergency cases every year.”
Air pollution continues to be an alarming problem in Kosovo, but oddly enough, it is (un)intentionally neglected by policymakers that consider this issue a low priority. A few questions related to air pollution arise, especially in Prishtina: What are the immediate measures that must be taken by the relevant institutions and responsible authorities when pollution reaches alarming levels? Where should Kosovo citizens get necessary information — especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and people that suffer from respiratory illnesses etc. — and how can citizens be sure that information and advice reaches them in a timely and accurate manner? Why is air pollution, this invisible killer, not treated as a priority issue by Kosovar citizens either? How can young people be involved and participate in a more authentic way in dealing with issues of air pollution?
To attempt to answer these questions, in June 2014, a number of organizations — Transitions Online, UNICEF Innovations Lab Kosovo, Internet Artisans, Peer Educators Network (PEN) and the Prosperity Initiative in Kosovo; supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the UNICEF Office in Kosovo — joined forces to create an experimental environment movement called the Science for Change Movement. This movement aims to involve a number of young people from different cities in Kosovo to research about air pollution by utilizing digital and non-digital equipment, as well as other methods that have successfully been applied in a relatively new international approach called “citizen science.”
Seeing the trend of air pollution in Kosovo (especially in the city center) during 2014, the Science for Change Movement intensified field air quality measurements during December 2015 – February 2016, and discovered hotspots or locations where NO2 pollution is highest in the capital. The measurements found that in December 2015, Prishtina, and in particular the center of the capital, was exposed to a high level of pollution from the toxic gas.
December 2015: Red spots show where NO2 pollution has surpassed an alarming level, over 65 ug/m3. The average value recommended by the European Union and the World Health Organisation is 40 ug/m3. Orange spots show where NO2 pollution fluctuates between 45 and 65 ug/m3. Green spots show where NO2 pollution is between 35 and 45 ug/m3.
In January-February 2016, NO2 pollution was partially reduced, albeit the center of Prishtina still remained exposed to a high level of pollution, with over 65 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). The map below shows NO2 pollution in Prishtina’s city center during this period.
January-February 2016: Red spots show where NO2 pollution has surpassed an alarming level, over 65 ug/m3. The average value recommended by the European Union and the World Health Organisation is 40 ug/m3. Orange spots show where NO2 pollution fluctuates between 45 and 65 ug/m3. Green spots show where NO2 pollution is between 35 and 45 ug/m3.
While during September 2016, the level of NO2 was partially reduced, as seen in the map below, figures still vary during that month, from a low of 45 ug/m3 to a high of 65 ug/m3 (at the main roundabout at the entrance to Prishtina).
September 2016: Red spots show where NO2 pollution has surpassed an alarming level, over 65 ug/m3. The average value recommended by the European Union and the World Health Organisation is 40 ug/m3. Orange spots show where NO2 pollution fluctuates between 45 and 65 ug/m3. Green spots show where NO2 pollution is between 35 and 45 ug/m3.
Campaign and actions against air pollution
Since August, working within the “Making Sense EU” project, PEN and the Science for Change Movement have also been conducting measurements of PM2.5 microparticles. These particles are one of the main causes of different diseases, including lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses.
The first measurements were taken during this year’s DokuFest Festival in Prizren, where they were published together with a short analysis that highlighted the fact that the results in Prizren showed values of PM2.5 pollution that were four times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) limit; WHO recommends an average level of PM2.5 particles no higher than 25 ug/m3 during a 24 hour period.
Besides interpreting the results of the PM2.5 pollution measurements taken during September-October 2016, PEN and the Science for Change Movement will soon start a campaign through which they will undertake direct actions to raise awareness for the issue of air pollution in public discourse, and seek more transparency for quick and proper information for citizens on air pollution by relevant institutions.
PEN and the Science for Change Movement conclusions:
1) NO2 air pollution in Prishtina is a continuous problem that often exceeds EU and WHO values;
2) During the winter period, the situation becomes even more alarming, registering values up to three times higher than those recommended by the EU and WHO;
3) The lowest levels of NO2 air pollution are during the summer and early autumn periods;
4) Data shows that the approximate area with the highest and most alarming NO2 pollution levels is the triangle between the bus station, the Grand Hotel and the Sunny Hill neighborhood;
5) Those people — especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly and people that suffer from respiratory diseases — who spend time in the zone mentioned in bullet point 4 are exposed to high pollution levels and therefore to health risks;
6) Often toxic NO2 gas accumulates even inside buildings, which is why a more comprehensive study is required;
7) The measurements recorded are non-digital measurements, but have been done with diffusion tubes which give an average value, the results of which are certified in London;
8) The source of NO2 pollution is a combination of dense traffic and emissions by the Kosova A and B power plants;
9) The data shows that high levels of toxic NO2 gas are likely to be having a large effect on the health of citizens, and immediate measures must be taken to improve the situation.
Ultimately, what must be highlighted is that air pollution measurements conducted by PEN and the Science for Change Movement are local and mobile measurements, unlike measurements conducted by state institutions that are general and static. Measurements conducted by PEN and the Science for Change Movement have an advantage compared to those by state institutions, because pollution can change street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, and as a result is neglected by static measurements, whereas it is more easily revealed by mobile measurements on a local basis.
