Air quality in Kacanik

What is the current level of air pollution in Kacanik?

Kacanik is a town and municipality located in the Ferizaj District of southern Kosovo. According to a census conducted in 2011, the population was estimated to be approximately 15,600 people and 33,500 when the municipality was included. This included not only the town of Kacanik but also 31 villages.

Towards the middle of 2021, Kacanik was experiencing a period of “Moderate” quality air with a US AQI reading of 53. This United States Air Quality Index figure is a globally available set of metrics that is used to determine the level of air pollution at any given time. It can be used to compare several cities, even when they are in different countries. The number is calculated by measuring up to six of the most commonly occurring pollutants in the air.

However, sometimes they are not always available and the figure has to be calculated using what records there are. In the case of Kacanik, the only figure available was that for PM2.5 which was recorded as being 10.1 µg/m³. This figure is quoted in micrograms/microns per cubic metre.

Usually, when the air is “Moderate” the published advice is to remain indoors and close all doors and windows to prevent the ingress of more polluted air into the house. Those of a sensitive disposition should avoid venturing outside until the air quality improves. The table at the top of this page should assist in that decision.

When is the best time of year to enjoy clean air in Kacanik?

Air quality can be very volatile as it is affected by many variables such as the seasons of the year, the speed and direction of the wind and the strength and length of sunlight hours.

Looking back at the figures published by IQAir.com for 2020, it is easy to see that in June, Kacanik achieved the target figure for air quality, as set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The target should be less than 10 µg/m³. The actual recorded figure was 9.2 µg/m³. For the seven months at either side of June, (March until the end of October), the air quality was classed as being “Moderate” with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. For February and December the quality was slightly worse with a category of “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with figures between 35.5 and 55 .4 µg/m³. The remaining two months of January and December recorded the worst air quality with figures between 55.5 and 150.4 µg/m³ which classified it as being “Unhealthy”.

There were no records kept before 2020 when the average annual figure was reported as being 29 µg/m³. This figure could be artificially lower than normal because of the restrictions brought into force due to the COVID-19 pandemic when the use of private vehicles was made unnecessary because many office workers were told to work from home and not commute to the office on a daily basis and many manufacturing plants were told to cease production until further notice.

What are the sources of all this polluted air in Kacanik?

As with many cities that require more heat during the colder months, Kacanik uses mostly coal to produce heat during the winter months. Such levels of air pollution are unsafe for Kosovo’s population and cause significant negative health impacts.

Kosovars and people living in the Balkans and Eastern Europe are typically breathing more toxic particulate air pollution than their neighbours in Western Europe. This is due to fewer air pollution reduction policies and more solid fuel heating and cooking (meaning many more residential wood and coal stoves) in Eastern European and Balkan countries compared to the rest of Europe. The Balkan region is home to many coal- and lignite-fired units and to 7 of the 10 most polluting coal-fired power stations in Europe.

A certain amount of air pollution comes from the number of older vehicles that ply the roads of the cities. Many such vehicles are older than 15 years and are therefore not fitted with the latest technology that lessens the pollutants released into the environment. Uncertainties related to vehicle age, fuel use, and imported used vehicles need to be addressed to allow a more accurate assessment of transport-related emissions.

Can anything be done to lower pollution levels in Kacanik?

Several possibilities exist in order to reduce air pollution such as, continuous air emissions monitoring in industry and other point sources, installation of clean stoves in households and the replacement of diesel buses with clean energy buses.

It is also intended to reduce coal consumption, introduce desulphurisation, denitrification, and dust elimination at factories and introduce ultra-low emission controls with regards to industry.

How does this poor air quality in Kacanik affect human health?

Exposure to fine PM2.5 is particularly dangerous to human health because these particles find their way deep into the lungs and the bloodstream resulting in disease and possible death.

Consequently, they can cause serious health effects such as lower respiratory infections; trachea, bronchial, and lung cancer; ischemic heart disease (IHD); strokes; and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs). In addition to causing pain and suffering, premature deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution result in increased health expenditures and labour productivity losses.

Air pollution appears to cause or contribute to a variety of health conditions. The effects of air pollution on a person’s health can range from mild breathing difficulties to severe cardiovascular issues, including heart disease and stroke.

Short-term exposure to air pollution, such as ground-level ozone, can affect the respiratory system because the majority of the pollutants enter the body through a person’s airways.

Short-term exposure to air pollution may lead to respiratory infections and reduced lung function. It may also aggravate asthma in people with this condition.

Research into the long-term health problems that air pollution can cause is ongoing. Research has linked air pollution to serious health problems, adverse birth outcomes, and even premature death. Exposure to particle pollutants may cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to the WHO, air pollution causes 43 per cent of COPD cases and deaths worldwide. COPD is a group of diseases that cause breathing-related difficulties, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases block the airways and make it difficult for a person to breathe.

There is no cure for COPD, but treatment can help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.