INCREASING NUMBER OF CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES AS A CLEAR SIGN OF THE IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION ON THE POPULATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

INCREASING NUMBER OF CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES AS A CLEAR SIGN OF THE IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION ON THE POPULATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

According to World Health Organization (WHO) a high level of air pollution is at the root of serious medical conditions like lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Further work is needed to quantity the effect of air pollution on chronic respiratory diseases including lung cancer on the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Air pollution has reached alarming levels in several larger cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the concentration of hazardous dust particles in Sarajevo reaching a record 700 micrograms per cubic metre, the Hydrometeorology Institute of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation entity reported in january 2016. According to the WHO, Sarajevo, is one of the most polluted cities in Europe when it comes to air pollution. While Sarajevo faces dangerous air pollution problem causes by car traffic and local heating, most air pollutants come from industrial activities mostly in Zenica and Tuzla. Along with the increase of air pollution, in the past 4 years there has been a noticable growth of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. In 2011 153,7 per 10.000 people, in 2012 151,9 per 10.000 people, in 2013 169,8 per 10.000 people and in 2014 177,7 per 10.000 people. The most frequent cancers include those of the trachea, bronchus, and lung, with men reporting a recurrence four times higher than women.  Air pollution is estimated to have caused over 3500 premature deaths in 2014.  However, the official air quality monitoring has not been established in Bosnia and Herzegovina yet.

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  • Department of Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ankara University