The drop in temperatures has once again placed Pristina among the cities with the most polluted air in the world. During the first two weeks of December, the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded levels exceeding the permitted pollution thresholds.
In this period, air pollution levels fluctuated between 150 and 200 on the AQI scale, surpassing acceptable limits and posing serious health concerns.
Environmental expert Besnik Shabiu explains that the deterioration of air quality—commonly observed during the winter season—is largely driven by emissions from thermal power plants. He notes that the most affected municipalities are Pristina, Obiliq, and Fushë Kosovë.
“The largest polluters are undoubtedly the ‘Kosova A’ and ‘Kosova B’ power plants, which are the main sources of heating and electricity at the same time. However, this does not mean that other municipalities are unaffected, as another major source of pollution is vehicle emissions,” Shabiu said.
“In Kosovo, approximately 500,000 vehicles are registered annually, many of which are outdated and contribute significantly to air pollution.”
Shabiu criticized institutions for failing to take concrete action to improve air quality.
“Unfortunately, in recent years, efforts to improve air quality have remained merely strategies on paper. Aside from increasing the number of air monitoring stations—allowing citizens to check air quality in real time—there have been no substantial investments to improve air quality overall,” he added.
“We are now waiting for the European Union to invest in upgrading the filters at the ‘Kosova A’ and ‘Kosova B’ power plants.”
Citizens continue to bear the health consequences of poor air quality.
Pulmonologist Skënder Baca warned that air pollution is one of the main factors damaging the human respiratory system.
“Polluted air, as everywhere in the world, negatively affects health in Kosovo as well. It attacks and damages the respiratory tract—from the nasal epithelium to the alveoli,” Baca said.
“Carbon dioxide is a major contributor, along with sulfur and nitrogen compounds. Additionally, our environment contains high levels of lead, a heavy metal that enters the body through the lungs, circulates through the bloodstream, and damages the liver and other organs.”
According to the European Commission’s Progress Report published in November, air quality in Kosovo has not shown any improvement over the past year, raising serious environmental and public health concerns.
