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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Gary Fuller

Particle pollution in the Balkans is the highest in Europe, research finds

A cityscape covered in a bluish mist
A view of Sarajevo shrouded in a combination of fog and polluted air. Photograph: Elvis Barukčić/AFP/Getty Images

When we think of the world’s most polluted cities, images of Delhi or Beijing come to mind, but new data has revealed acute pollution problems close to the heart of Europe.

Prof Andre Prevot, of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland, explained: “In winter, the particle pollution in the Balkans is the highest in Europe. Particle pollution levels are often higher than in Beijing and on some days they are among the highest in the world. Sulphur dioxide in winter can be over 30 times greater than what we normally see in western Europe.”

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