Skopje, 20 January 2023 (MIA) – Berovo saw only one day of clean air last month, whereas Prilep, Gostivar, Kichevo, Tetovo, Strumica and Gevgelija did not go a single day without PM2.5 particles, according to the O2 Initiative.

The O2 Initiative has conducted a comparative analysis of data for the presence of PM10 and PM2.5 particles from all measuring stations for December in comparison to previous years.

“The measuring stations with the highest number of days with clean air in terms of PM2.5 are Bitola 1 (missing measurements for multiple days) and Miladinovci. The Bitola 1 measuring station is located at the outskirts of Bitola, near small food and drink production industries, 13 km away from REK Bitola. This data debunks the myth that Bitola is the most polluted city due to REK Bitola,” reads the initiative’s press release.

As regards PM10 particles, Skopje and Tetovo no longer have daily concentrations of over 500-900 micrograms/m3, a result of the unfiltered big industry such as Makstil, Jugohrom, etc.

With the exception of Lazaropole in December 2022, for more than half a month, the daily concentration of PM10 up to the legally allowed 50 micrograms/m3 was met in Miladinovci – 20 days, Bitola 1, Shtip and Berovo – 17 days, Gazi Baba – 16 days and Rektorat – 15 days.

“An industrial city such as Skopje with a measuring station near Zhelezara and another near a frequent crossroads have nearly same number of days with permitted pollution as Berovo and the industrial part of Bitola. The myth that places like Berovo breathe more days of polluted air within permissible bounds than big industrial cities with heavy traffic are being debunked,” reads the press release.

Kichevo, Tetovo and Kavadarci have measured the least number of days with clean air over the past few years.

Strumica was the only city in December 2022 that did not see a single day with PM10 particles under 40 micrograms/m3, putting the city at the top of the pollution list.

The O2 Initiative concludes that, despite the improvement of air quality in Skopje and Tetovo, after the big industries set up filters or stop working, weather continues to be the main factor that affects air quality, microclimate, wind, its direction, whether there’s fog or not, etc.

“Without changing the heating methods and setting up stricter industry standards, especially in cities like Skopje where the sheer size of the industry requires the usage of gas in production processes, made available by the best technologies, as well as banning other fuels, no traffic regulations, abolishing outdoor burning sites, no control of construction and construction dust, as well as dust from deforested areas and dirty streets that the wind disperses, we will not have air clear of PM10 and PM2.5, not just in winter, but all year-round,” according to the press release.

O2 is an initiative to protect and defend nature, and to secure a clean and healthy environment. dk/nn/