Air Quality Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina

World Bank

doi:10.1596/33043

Abstract

Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) experience high ambient concentrations of health-damaging fine particulate air pollution in Europe. This report is one in a series of three reports on air quality management in BiH, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. This report examines the nature and magnitude of ambient air pollution (AAP) in BiH. It provides estimates of the health burden, and economic cost associated with the health impacts, of AAP, that is, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in BiH. It also provides an analysis of the impacts of various sources of PM2.5 emissions on ambient air quality in BiH at a country level. The institutional and policy framework for air quality management (AQM) in the country is examined, including contributions of other development institutions in supporting BiH's efforts to address air pollution. Furthermore, this report presents experiences of selected countries that have applied different policy, investment, and technical interventions for air pollution, prevention, reduction, and abatement. Finally, it provides recommendations for reducing air pollution in BiH. Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) experience high ambient concentrations of health-damaging fine particulate air pollution in Europe. This report is one in a series of three reports on air quality management in BiH, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. This report examines the nature and magnitude of ambient air pollution (AAP) in BiH. It provides estimates of the health burden, and economic cost associated with the health impacts, of AAP, that is, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in BiH. It also provides an analysis of the impacts of various sources of PM2.5 emissions on ambient air quality in BiH at a country level. The institutional and policy framework for air quality management (AQM) in the country is examined, including contributions of other development institutions in supporting BiH's efforts to address air pollution. Furthermore, this report presents experiences of selected countries that have applied different policy, investment, and technical interventions for air pollution, prevention, reduction, and abatement. Finally, it provides recommendations for reducing air pollution in BiH.

Highlights

It is well documented that the strongest and most rigorously proven causal associations between health and poor air quality are between cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and PM2.5 pollution
Using the Greenhouse Gas-Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model to simulate emission scenarios up to 2030 and generate country-level source apportionments, this study found that if effectively enforced, the existing environmental and air quality policies are expected to deliver a strong decline in the emissions of SO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) but will not have major impacts on primary PM2.5 emissions, as current energy projections do not foresee major shifts away from fuelwood combustion in household stoves and boilers
Strengthening collection and reporting of health statistics associated with ambient air pollution: Background mortality is crucial for economic analysis of AAP-related health burden

Summary

Introduction

It is well documented that the strongest and most rigorously proven causal associations between health and poor air quality are between cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and PM2.5 pollution. Recent work by Burnett et al (2018) suggests that health impacts of PM2.5 are more significant than previously understood and that exposure to PM2.5 contributes to mortality from causes other than typically examined in global burden of disease studies (that is, LC, IHD, COPD, lower respiratory tract infections [LRI], and stroke). These findings underscore the need to prioritize actions to tackle AAP. Air pollution is severe during the cold winter months, when households burn coal and wood for heating and cooking, releasing polluting emissions at breathing height (2–3 m above ground) During this season, PM2.5 concentrations can exceed the WHO guideline for daily average concentrations (25 μg/m3) by 120 times. The agriculture sector is an important source of secondary PM pollution associated with NH3 emissions from use of nitrogen-based fertilizers and livestock waste management

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