Environmental issues in Pristina

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Pristina, the capital of the Republic of Kosovo, is the country's most populated city, with more than 200,000 inhabitants. Its air pollution level are similar to those of Beijing, Mumbai and New Delhi. [1] The main sources of Pristina's air pollution include power plant emissions during energy production, household emissions and traffic.

Contents


Pristina grapples with a myriad of pollution issues that significantly impact the environment and public health. From air and water pollution to waste management challenges, the city faces complex environmental problems that require urgent attention and sustainable solutions.

Air Pollution

Pristina suffers from severe air pollution, primarily attributed to industrial activities, vehicular emissions, and the burning of fossil fuels for heating during the winter months. The concentration of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) often exceeds acceptable levels, posing serious health risks to residents.

Water Pollution

The quality of water sources is also a cause for concern, with pollution stemming from industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and inadequate sewage treatment systems. Rivers and streams in the region suffer from contamination by heavy metals, chemicals, and organic pollutants, jeopardizing aquatic ecosystems and the availability of safe drinking water.

Studies have highlighted the presence of pollutants such as lead, arsenic, and pesticides in water samples collected from various sources. [2] The deteriorating water quality not only poses risks to human health but also undermines efforts to achieve sustainable development and preserve natural resources.

Waste Management

Inefficient waste management practices contribute to the pollution burden, with inadequate collection, treatment, and disposal systems leading to littering, illegal dumping, and landfill pollution. The proliferation of plastic waste further exacerbates environmental degradation, posing challenges for recycling and waste reduction efforts.

Despite initiatives to improve waste management infrastructure and promote recycling programs, Pristina continues to grapple with systemic challenges. [3] Limited public awareness and engagement, coupled with insufficient investment in sustainable waste management solutions, hinder progress towards a cleaner and healthier environment.

Conclusion

Addressing the pollution issues in Pristina requires a multi-faceted approach that involves regulatory reforms, investment in clean technology, and community engagement. By implementing effective policies and collaborative initiatives, stakeholders can mitigate environmental pollution, protect public health, and safeguard the quality of life for current and future generations in Pristina.

Air pollution in Pristina

Air in Pristina is polluted mainly from:[ citation needed ]

Sources of air pollution

The main sources of air pollution in Pristina are:[ citation needed ]

Gases

NOx The main nitrogen oxide found in the air in Pristina is nitrogen oxide (NO). NO affects the color of textile materials, causes corrosion in metallic materials, and causes the wilting of leaves in vegetation. NO2 is 4 times more lethal than NO, and it is mostly concentrated in urban areas. NO2 in Pristina is 52% from transport sector, 28% from emissions for energy production, and 11% from industry. [4] Pristina has a lower annual average of NO2 emission as compared to the annual average limit allowed.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-annual average for 2010 and 2011
20102011
Annual average value limit for protection of materials40 μg/m3
Pristina-KHMI20.82-

Annual average of NO2 in Pristina

The annual average of NO2 emission in Pristina was 20.82 μg/m3 in 2010, lower than limit of 40 μg/m3. There is no available data for 2011, which means no comparison can be made between 2010 and 2011. [5] However, with only 68% of data being valid, this means that the emission of NO2 may not be accurate. On the other hand, according to a study by the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, the emission of NO2 is alarming; in only three months, NO2 measurement exceeded allowed emissions by 18 times. [6] The emission of NO2 is higher in winter, where the heating process is accelerated, with February being the peak month. The main contributor to the pollution of air with NO2 are Kosovo A and B power plants. Thus, NO2 emission is estimated to be higher in urban areas where traffic is enormous. However, in Pristina, the NO2 limit that would cause health problems in people's life is not exceeded; this may not apply for other cities near Pristina.

SO2

Sulphur dioxide (SO2)-annual average(including the winter season 01.10-31.03)2010 and 2011
20102011
The limit value for vegetation protection annual average(including the winter 01.10-31.03)20 μg/m3
Pristina, KHMI11.23-

Annual average values of SO2 in Pristina

CO2

Pristina at sunset Prishtina ne perendim te diellit.jpg
Pristina at sunset

Vehicles and fuel burning companies are the main sources of CO2 in Pristina. Fuel burning includes liquid fuels, natural gas and wood, combustion of coal, and industrial processes such as furnaces, paper factories, the refineries, and facilities for production of construction materials. CO2 emission in air can be mitigated through plants; however, this is another problem in Pristina. The lack of green spaces and well-maintained parks makes the mitigation of CO2 impossible. The highest pollutant is the production of energy, with Pristina's annual CO2 contribution to global warming being 5.5 million tons. CO2 pollution comes 30% from fuel use for power generation, 29% from transport, 20% from industry, 15% from residential commerce, and 6% from other sources. If Pristina is compared with regional countries, it is noticed that Pristina exceeds the OSCE and EU emissions of CO2. Pristina has higher emission of CO2 compared to the region of Serbia, and lower emissions compared to the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Particulate matter (dust)

PM emission on air comes mainly from transportation in Pristina. The problem lies in the significant increase of automobiles in Pristina, where most are old and do not possess catalytic converters. Pristina's cars' life spans range from 5 years to more than 15 years. 7.5% of registered cars are newer than 5 years old, 77.36% are older than 10 years, and 66.82% of them are more than 15 years old. [7] Furthermore, each day in Pristina, an enormous number of cars enter, creating traffic as well as air pollution. Out of the total number of vehicles registered in Kosovo, 31.18% of them are registered in Pristina; 84% are passenger's vehicles, 13% are from transporting, and the others come mainly from urban traffic. The public transportation in Pristina contains mainly buses exported from other countries. There are 757 licensed buses routes per day and out of these 382 are executed on average per day. Buses/minibuses connecting urban and suburban areas total 151 with 935 departures per day. [8]

There are two main stations in Pristina that measure the air pollution, the Kosovo Hydro Meteorological Institute (IHMK) and Rilindja.

PM10

PM10 number of days with exceeded daily limit value for 2010 and 201120102011
Daily limit value50 μg/m3
Number of days with exceedances within a year35days
Pristina IHMK9968*
Pristina Rilindja69*92*

Number of days with exceeded limit values of PM10

As can be seen from the table, the maximum amount allowed to be exceeded with PM10 is 35 days, and the maximum daily value is 50 μg/m3. However, according to KHMI, Pristina exceeded this limit for 99 days in 2010 and for 68 days in 2011. The majority of days with exceedance of average daily values were during the winter months. [9] The table below presents PM10 maximum, minimum, and average monthly values, where November is the month with the highest recorded PM10 value. [10]

PM10AverageMaxMin
Sep51.783.124.1
Oct50.6128.210.6
Nov153.84278.6337.97
Dec53.23141.7916.96
Jan54.45155.914.07
Feb51.84125.9816.05
Mar49.7473.0524.19

Monthly average values, max and min. of PM10, IHMK station (Pristina 1)

The annual limit of (40 μg/m3) was also exceeded in 2010 and 2011, as it can be seen from figure 2. The highest pollution value reached from traffic in Pristina was estimated to be 75.74 μg/m3, which is 1.9 times more than the average annual limit. [11]

PM2.5

PM2.5 Annual average
20102011
Annual limit value50 μg/m3
Pristina Rilindje37.3440.04

Annual Average of PM2.5

The average annual emission of PM2.5 is 25 μg/m3. However, Pristina has exceeded this limit in 2010 and 2011. Furthermore, the PM2.5 concentration has increased from 37.34 μg/m3 in 2010 to 40.40 μg/m3in 2011. [11] The highest value of PM2.5 has been recorded in the winter months, with November leading among other months.

PM2.5AverageMaxMin
Nov93.88148.8726.02
Dec39.31110.213.73
Jan44.38144.7411.38
Feb41.97110.310.23
Mar32.3646.6118.93

Monthly average values, max and min. of PM2.5, station IHMK (Pristina1)

Kosovo A and B Power Plants

Thermal power plants Kosovo A+B in Obiliq KEK plants - Obiliq.jpg
Thermal power plants Kosovo A+B in Obiliq

Kosovo A and B power plants are the number one pollutant of Kosovo and Pristina region. It is the primary factor contributing to the pollution of air with the above-mentioned gasses. The power plants located in Obiliq produce 97% of the electrical energy used in Pristina, while only 3% comes from hydropower.[ citation needed ] There is no continuous emission monitoring system from those two plants. However, lower emissions have been reported in Kosovo B compared to Kosovo A. Kosovo A has three blocks, A1, A3, A5, and Kosovo B has two blocks B1 and B2. According to the state report for environmental conditions in Kosovo, both power plants have exceeded the SO2 limits in air, that of 400 mg/Nm3, and the NO2 limit that of 500 mg/Nm3, and dust emission limit that of 50 mg/Nm3. CO2 emission from Kosovo A is lower than from power plant Kosovo B, as it can be seen in the table below.

200720082009201020112012
Kosovo A2,087,9382,008,1962,364,2532,848,1172,893,0872,762,053
Kosovo B3,636,3614,338,0114,689,6154,249,3013,463,9013,314,555
Sum5,724,2996,346,2077,053,8687,097,4186,356,9886,076,608

CO2 emissions from power plants Kosovo A and B in Pristina

Electro filters are planned to be established in A3, A4 and A5 with the aim to increase the efficiency of the existing electro filters. [12] The plant's CO2 emissions are more than 6 million tons annually, which means 520 tons per hour. When Kosovo A+B produces energy at full capacity (200 MW), it emits 25 tons of dust and ash (that includes gases) per hour, which is 74 times more than the European limit. Critical months are deemed April, June, July, October, November and December, where the emission of gases and dust exceeds the limit allowed.

Facts from Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning in Kosovo (2006):

  • Greenhouse gasses: 10,797,000 tons of CO2 and 425,000 t of CH4
  • CO emissions: 986,000 tons
  • Dust emissions: 167,000 t with specific values from 1,881mg/m3 to 7,523 mg/m3 at Kosovo A and 250 mg/m3 at Kosovo B
  • SO2 emissions: 167,000 t with specific values of 895 mg/m3
  • NOx Emission: 20,000 t with specific values from 358 mg/m3 to 478 mg/m3 at Kosovo A and 735 mg/m3 at Kosovo B. [13]

The Ministry of Environment has concluded that the problem with dust emitted from those two power plants is serious and it cannot be avoided without major redesign of the boilers. Plant units in Kosovo A need serious assessment since they are at the end of their lifespan. On the other hand, Kosovo B has a longer lifespan, but the existing electrostatic precipitator is in very bad conditions and also there is low control of dust emission in the air. The European Union has set some targets that those power plants shall reach by 2017. Dust emission should be max 50 mg/Nm3, SO2 max 400 mg/Nm3, and NO2 max 500 mg/Nm3.

PollutantKosovo AKosovo BLimit valueLimit to be achieved by
Dust902.32156.355031 Dec 2017
SO2251.42208.5540031 Dec 2017
NO2705.75835.0850031 Dec 2017

Air pollutants released in 2006 from Power Plants Kosovo A and B

District Heating and Household Heating

The district heating company "Termokos" operates a network covering some neighborhoods in the center of Pristina. An extension is foreseen. This company operates a heating station fueled with oil and gas, while a cogeneration system is considered a stable solution for the improvement of the heating system in Pristina. District heating is offered only in three cities in Kosovo, whereas approximately 3–4% of households are connected.

Some challenges related with District heating are:[ citation needed ]

  • Loss of hot water (energy) in the distribution network
  • Non-coverage of entire city with district heating
  • No use of renewable energy such as solar heating
  • Pollutants emitted in the air
PollutantTermokosLimit
SO2491.0400 mg/Nm3

SO2 pollution from Termokos (2006) [13]

However, private households in Pristina use mainly wood, wastewood and residual waste for heating, burned in old ovens without filters and low burning temperatures. Thus, air pollutants, dust and smell end up in the urban air and worsen the situation. Heating material is secured from public vegetation. This problem could be reduced if district heating challenges would be solved, and each house in Pristina would be abandoned from firing heating materials, which are cut from woods and bushes in the region. In turn, more vegetation would decrease the air pollution as well.

Water

Pristina City has limited quantities of surface waters and groundwaters, which are mainly distributed to peripheral areas. A small fraction of the available water is underground water, such as the Pajtimi field source that amounts to 50 litres/sec and the "Germia" source with 15 litres/sec. [14] Watercourses are scarce. There are small rivers in the urban area, such as Pristina River and Vellusha River that collect the water flows of creeks coming from Lagjia e Spitalit, Mati, Kodra e Trimave, and Vellusha. Pristina Rivers serve to collect rainwater from all urban areas of Pristina.

The main drinking water sources remain Batllava and Badovc Lakes. Batllava Lake has a capacity of 38 million m3 of water. With 65% of drinking water, Batllava represents the main source of drinking water for the municipality of Pristina. It was built in 1960-1963; initially it worked only for technical water supply to the Power plant complex in Obiliq. From 1982 it turned into water resource for drinking water for the Pristina region. Recently, the drinkwater treatment plant in Shajkovc was built, which has a maximum capacity of 900 liters/sec. Badovci Lake has a volume of 27 million m3 and supplies the town of Pristina with 35% of drinking water. It was initially built in 1960 for the supply of drinking water, irrigation, and technical water for Kishnica mine. From 1980 this lake is mainly used for drinking water purposes for Pristina region. The drinkwater treatment plant has been built in Badovc, which has a maximum capacity of 400 liters/sec. Those two lakes are the main source of potable water in Pristina. They both supply around 90% of population in Pristina region with drinking water.

However, the distribution network has many problems. Most of the pipes used are older than 50 years, which lose around 50% of available water; 35% are technical losses, while 15% are commercial losses. As a result, there are shortages on available water to citizens, with 8-10 hours/day water cuts to each household. A problem is the water contamination. There is no urban water monitoring in Kosovo. There are only regional water companies that do not have capacities on drinking water monitoring.

Contamination in waterbodies

Wastewater discharges remain the main pollutants of water in Pristina. Those wastes are dangerous because they contain substances such as soluble compounds of phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, pathogenic bacteria and viruses, nitrogen (eutrophication), and other matters that affect the water quality. [15] Main carrier of underground waters pollution is Prishtevka River, which at the same time is the main carrier of sewage and rainwater.

There are two major pollutors of waterbodies in Pristina, collective pollutors and commercial pollutors. Collective polluters are households and individuals that throw waste and wastewater in waterbodies or common canalization system. Industries are the largest commercial pollutants, such as agriculture, chemicals, and ironmongery. To Prishtevka River, there are six commercial and one collective pollutor. To Llapi River there are 15 collective and seven commercial pollutors. Sitnica River has 24 collective and seven commercial pollutors, and Gracanka River has three collective and one commercial polluter. The table below shows the individual pollutants in Pristina and their landfills. [16]

MunicipalityPollutant NameActionReceiving waterbody
Pristina"Auto Parkingu"Autopark IronmongeryPrishtevke
"Erona Riciklim"IronmongeryPrishtevke
"Idea"Food IndustryPrishtevke
"Kosova Tex"Textile IndustryPrishtevke
"Kualiteti"SlaughterhousePrishtevke
"Trafiku Urban"Autopark OficineUnderground water
"NTP Vjosa"Food IndustryPrishtevke

Commercial Water Pollutors in Pristina

Sewage waters

In the city of Pristina the sewer system is intended to lead wastewater out of the city center but there is no controlled treatment of sewage waters. Waste waters are disposed towards rivers. Sitnica River is the main receiver of sewage waters coming from citizens of Pristina with a total amount of water discharged 800 litres/sec, from which 450 liter/sec come through Pristina River and 150 litres/sec through Vellusha River. Other amounts are taken through Shkabaj creek. There are only 8 settlements in Pristina with public or private canalization system. The table below presents selected districts of Pristina and their sewage waters dump sites. [16]

DistrictInhabitantsReceiving waterbody
Pristina"Qyteti"43024.5Prishtevke
"Bardhosh"2150Lumi Llap
"Barileve"4200Lumi Llap
"Besi"907Lumi Llap
"Hajvali"6000Gracanke
"Prroni i njelmet"1000Underground water
"Prugovc-Leban"800Lumi Llap
"Shkabaj"1500Sitnice
"Trude"540Lumi Llap
"Vranidoll"870Lumi Llap

Waterbody pollution in Pristina districts

As depicted in the table, the most polluted river with sewage waters is Prishtevka, with more than 400,000 inhabitants polluting it. Wastewaters are present also in Taukbashçe Park, causing smell and immission in the park under which elderly park visitor may suffer. [17]

Underground waters

Considering the problem of Pristina to sufficiently supply its citizens with water, underground water has been thought to be a solution for this problem. Kolevica underground waters have been the main water supplier for Pristina from 1950 to 1970. Those waters are placed in the northern side of Pristina, with a maximum capacity of 50 litres/sec. However, with the construction of Batllava River, those underground rivers were left unused, and now they form part of the polluted waters in Pristina. Germia Source is another underground water resource that lies in Germia Park ad is the oldest water sources known. It has been used many years ago, and it has a flow of 15 litres/sec. This source is used for Germia Basis, while in those days Germia's underground waters are considered to be the main source of water for Pristina citizens.

Wells in Pristina

There are hidden wells[ clarification needed ] in Pristina, which most of them are covered with waste and are in the most polluted areas of Pristina. These sources are used when surface water is lacking. Recently, water has been found in "Pajtimi" field, which currently is one of the waste polluted areas. [18] However, in an attempt to clean Pristina environment and also find water, the opening phase of these wells has started and they are estimated to be completed by mid-2014. In this place, 9 wells are found, and the flow is estimated at 60 litres/sec.

There are two other wells in Llukar village. Those wells are estimated to have a flow of 50 litres/sec. The problem with those two wells is their usage, mainly for auto washing. Those wells ceased being used in 1989, and they are expected to become active again by mid-2014.

A plan to plant trees in Pristina and lower air pollution has prompted that 17 artificial wells to be opened in Pristina. The Pristina municipal government has provided funding for these wells, which would supply the water the irrigation of the newly planted trees. [19]

Law on water protection

For more information visit: Kosovo Law on Water

Waste

The region of Pristina produces a high amount of waste. In 2007, 61.644.35 ton of waste have been collected only in Pristina, while in 2008, 80.185.06[ clarification needed ] tons of waste has been collected in Pristina.

NoSanitarian DisposalJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal (ton)
1Pristina3665.454273.735032.075017.465239.634854.544938.135264.285005.82625664135703.961664.35
NoSanitarian DisposalJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal (ton)
1Pristina5904.905826.066250.236665.966377.977032.287712.597242.916114.457423.376351.127278.2280185.06

Waste Collection in Pristina 2007 and 2008

Wild Landfill in Arberia district Pano pristina noche2.jpg
Wild Landfill in Arberia district

The average amount of municipal waste disposal in Pristina is 0.9kg/day per person, while 332kg/year per person. If Pristina is compared with other municipalities, it can be seen that Pristina differs much more. in other municipalities this average is 95kg/year per person. [20] The problem relies in the disposal of this waste is done in (field-waste) municipal surface. Those waste disposals have not filled the minimum standard requirements for waste. They are settled near habitats and rivers, which most of time end up polluting the rivers also, especially underground waters and wells. Oftentimes those waste disposals are burned from nature, as well as from people. During summer they smell badly because most of waste is not even covered with grit. Some disposals in Pristina have been closed, with the aim to reduce those negative effects in the nature; however, still most of them remain uncovered.

Pristina regional waste disposal collects waste from Prishtinë, Obiliq, Lipjan, Fushë Kosovë and Drenas(Gllogoc). The size of this disposal is approximately 40 hectares, it has a life span of 15 years, and its total capacity is 3,500,000 m3 while its monthly capacity is 6000 tons. The status of this disposal is miserable, with a very bad smell causing many health implications to people. [20]

Local waste

As the capital city of Kosovo, Pristina has the largest number of inhabitants, which in turn means that it has the largest amount of waste disposal. Generation, collection, treatment, and elimination of waste in Pristinais done by "Pastrimi" Company, which covers the highest percentage of people with this service compared to other municipalities. In 2007 this company covered 64% of the population with this service, in 2008 52%, in 2009 53%, and in 2010 55%. [20] Collection of waste is done through two ways: 52% door-to-door collection and 48% for collective apartments.

Vendi i grumbullimitBanesa kolektiveDere me dereGjithsej
Njesia1000 ton
Prishtina dhe religjioni99,496149,336248,832

Waste collection in Pristina

In 2012, local yearly waste per capita was 515kg, while daily waste per capita was 1.4kg. The total amount of waste collected in Pristina is 248,832 ton. (cite 37) The collection of local waste in Pristina has increased from 2007 to 2012. In 2007 182,000 ton were collected, while in 2012 249,000 ton were collected. This is an example of an increase in the efficiency of waste collection. If Pristina is compared with the other regions, the collection of waste per capita is much higher. Only in 2012, the difference between Pristina and other regions collection of waste was 0.7kg. [21]

Industrial waste

Industrial waste contains substances in various aggregate forms that remained for a long time in different facilities, warehouses, and industrial units. Over time, the usage of some of these substances has expired or degraded by changing their composition, making them as highly hazardous substances for people's health.

Type of wasteQuantity / UnitLocationMunicipality
Waste and solid chemical substances49045 m3Kosova APristina
Waste and solid chemical substances186 tonsKosova APristina
Radioactive sources34 unitsKosova APristina
Radioactive waste184 Americium rings"Pallati i rinise"Pristina
Solid chemicals231.8 kg"Laboratori ne Kishnice"Pristina
Plastic Barrels with Acid9 items"Laboratori ne Kishnice"Pristina
Plastics, unknown9 items"Laboratori ne Kishnice"Pristina
Substances in unlabelled bottles15 units"Laboratori ne Kishnice"Pristina

Industrial Waste in Pristina

As it can be seen, Kosovo A power plant is one of the largest pollutants with industrial waste, followed by Kishnica Laboratory.

Medicinal waste

This type of waste includes medicinal pills whose usage is not valid anymore. This sector in Pristina does not have a system of collection, transportation, or elimination. Even though new waste disposals have been set in hospital as well as in medicinal family centers, they are not being used as much. Medicinal pills are thrown in normal waste disposals. When medicinal pills stay for a long time without valid usage time, then they release dangerous substances for human's health. The Municipal Family Medicine Center in Pristina releases 60 tons/year medicinal waste. [20] Medicinal waste is found also in some pharmacies in Pristina. The central pharmacy of Pristina has declared 200 kg of medical waste. Other pharmacies have also reported medical waste, such as the Agani Warehouse.

Land degradation

The continued impact of human activities on land causes land degradation, which is harmful for human and socio-economic environment. Since Pristina is the capital city of Kosovo, most of the population lives here. This means that land degradation issue is more present in the Pristina region; however, Pristina was always industrial-oriented city, with less agricultural land used for food cultivation. Land degradation happens because of the increased construction of settlements (unplanned constructions), road construction, industry (solid waste, surface mining), local and sanitary waste, erosion and uncontrolled exploitation of gravel.

Land usage

Below are some facts for land usage in Pristina Municipality:[ citation needed ]

Constructed Land: 2365.6 hectares or 30.45% of the total surface

Residential Areas: 2011.58 hectares. It is characterized with individual residence 23.17%, with only 2.72% collective residence.

Economic Areas: 217.94 hectares or 2.81% of total constructed areas belongs to the industrial development.

Educational Institutions: occupy a surface of 34.7 hectares or 0.45% of the constructed area.

Health Institutions: occupy a surface of 33.9 hectares or 0.44% of the constructed area.

Administrative Institutions: occupy a surface of 50.08 hectares or 0.64% of the constructed area.

Green Areas: 5023.05 hectares or 64.04% of the total area.

Specific Areas: 149.11 hectares or 1.92% of the total area.

Transport and Traffic Areas: 231 hectares or 2.97% of total area.

Ownership in Pristina Municipality is divided into two groups:

Public Ownership: 2695.21 hectares or 34.7%.

Private Ownership: 5073.48 hectares or 65.3%.

Degradation of agricultural land

Pristina has 9,155 hectares of agricultural land, from which 8508 hectares are irrigated. Since Pristina has highly polluted air, it is assumed that air pollution is also harming vegetation and soil layers. This happens through rainfall that washes pollutants from air and deposits it in soil. One of the most common ways of agricultural land degradation is the transformation of agricultural land into industrial land. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, in the period from 1998 to 2006 one hectare of land in Pristina was transformed. However, the construction of Pristina started the last five years, with more people building apartments in each neighborhood of Pristina. [20]

The problem of land use re-dedication is happening with and without the permission of the municipality of Pristina. According to the Director of the Kosovo Agricultural association, land degradation is daily happening more and more, and the most endangered agricultural lands are located between Pristina and the Motorway to Skopje. [22]

Spatial planning

Spatial planning in Pristina is very important, given the enormous construction plans happening currently. The construction of collective apartments has started in Pristina the last five years, and some of them follow the directives for constructing from Pristina Municipality, but others do not. However, when dealing with spatial planning, it is very important to protect local zones from construction, especially parks that people use for recreational activities. One of the natural spatial areas protected from the municipality of Pristina is the Regional park "Germia."

Germia Protected Zone

-Germia national park Pristina 2014-01-29 12-19 -Germia national park Prishtina 2014-01-29 12-19.jpg
-Germia national park Pristina 2014-01-29 12-19

Germia Regional Park lies in the northern part of Pristina and has a surface of 62 km2. Due to its biodiversity in fauna and flora, the park is protected and monitored by Hortikultura Public enterprise. Construction is prohibited. 610 types of vascular flora have been found in Germia separated into 82 families. 83 types of mushrooms have been found and 4 forest communities. [23]

Due to better air quality in the forest, most people use it as a recreational place. 4140.52 hectares of Germia are under the protected zone, starting from the Germia Basis and continue with fields, children parks and toys, and sporting centers. The status of Germia is a Protected Regional Park, including 1.126.01.00 hectares. Germia Park is evidenced as a protected zone in the international list of protected places. The boundaries of Germia are Miredita hills in the north towards the Hajvalia mining and Gracanica River. In the east the Badovci River, it continues with Busise River in the south, and vineyards in the west.

Environmental protection measures

During 2011–2012, the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning in Kosovo, has formulated the Strategy for the protection of the Environment in Pristina. Those strategies have been created for the future of Pristina environment in 2015-2022. Those strategies entail specific plans and EU standards that Pristina needs to fulfill by the end of year 2022. Local Plans for Environmental Actions are mandatory for each municipality in Kosovo. In Pristina, this plan has been approved and it only waits for the starting period of implementation. This plan has been taken in cooperation with the Swedish Agence for International Development. The municipality of Pristina is developing and implementing this plan for other municipalities as well. 14 plans have been established for waste management in Pristina, according to the Kosovo Law for Waste.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environment of Belgium</span>

The environment of Belgium is generally affected by the high population density in most of the country. However, due to consistent efforts by the various levels of government in Belgium, the state of the environment in Belgium is gradually improving. These efforts have led to Belgium being ranked as one of the top 10 countries in terms of environmental protection trends. However, water quality still suffers from a relatively low, yet increasing percentage of sewage waste-water treatment, and from historical pollution accumulated in sediments. Air quality is generally good to average, but is affected by emissions from traffic and house heating, and industrial air pollution blowing over from the neighboring heavily industrialized Ruhr-area in Germany. Biodiversity is lower in Flanders than in Wallonia because of population density and fragmentation of habitats, but efforts are being made to boost bio-diversity through connecting fragmented forests and national parks through wildlife crossing "ecoducts" such as in Kikbeek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Pollution Index</span> Air quality measurement in Malaysia

The Air Pollution Index is a simple and generalized way to describe the air quality, which is used in Malaysia. It is calculated from several sets of air pollution data and was formerly used in mainland China and Hong Kong. In mainland China the API was replaced by an updated air quality index in early 2012 and on 30 December 2013 Hong Kong moved to a health based index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollution in China</span> Overview of pollution in China

Pollution in China is one aspect of the broader topic of environmental issues in China. Various forms of pollution have increased following the industrialisation of China, causing widespread environmental and health problems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air pollution</span> Presence of dangerous substances in the atmosphere

Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances called pollutants in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. It is also the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment either by chemical, physical, or biological agents that alters the natural features of the atmosphere. There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases, particulates and biological molecules. Air pollution can cause diseases, allergies, and even death to humans; it can also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and crops, and may damage the natural environment or built environment. Air pollution can be caused by both human activities and natural phenomena.

This article discusses topics related to the environment of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air pollution in Mexico City</span> Poor quality of air in the capital and largest city of Mexico

Air Pollution in Mexico City has been of concern to the city's population and health officials for decades. In the 20th century, Mexico City's population rapidly increased as industrialization brought thousands of migrants from all over the world. Such a rapid and unexpected growth led to the UN declaring Mexico City as the most polluted city in the world in 1992. This was partly due to Mexico City's high altitude, which causes its oxygen levels to be 25% lower. Carbon-based fuels also do not combust completely. Other factors include the proliferation of vehicles, rapid industrial growth, and the population boom. The Mexican government has several active plans to reduce emission levels which require citizen participation, vehicular restrictions, increase of green areas, and expanded bicycle accessibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Particulates</span> Microscopic solid or liquid matter suspended in the Earths atmosphere

Particulates or atmospheric particulate matter are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. The term aerosol refers to the particulate/air mixture, as opposed to the particulate matter alone, though it is sometimes defined as a subset of aerosol terminology. Sources of particulate matter can be natural or anthropogenic. They have impacts on climate and precipitation that adversely affect human health, in ways additional to direct inhalation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air pollution in India</span>

Air pollution in India is a serious environmental issue. Of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, 21 were in India in 2019. As per a study based on 2016 data, at least 140 million people in India breathe air that is 10 times or more over the WHO safe limit and 13 of the world's 20 cities with the highest annual levels of air pollution are in India. 51% of the pollution is caused by industrial pollution, 27% by vehicles, 17% by crop burning and 5% by other sources. Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year. Emissions come from vehicles and industry, whereas in rural areas, much of the pollution stems from biomass burning for cooking and keeping warm. In autumn and spring months, large scale crop residue burning in agriculture fields – a cheaper alternative to mechanical tilling – is a major source of smoke, smog and particulate pollution. India has a low per capita emissions of greenhouse gases but the country as a whole is the third largest greenhouse gas producer after China and the United States. A 2013 study on non-smokers has found that Indians have 30% weaker lung function than Europeans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Eastern China smog</span> Air pollution event in eastern China

The 2013 Eastern China smog was a severe air pollution episode that affected East China, including all or parts of the municipalities of Shanghai and Tianjin, and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Zhejiang, during December 2013. A lack of cold air flow, combined with slow-moving air masses carrying industrial emissions, collected airborne pollutants to form a thick layer of smog over the region. Levels of PM2.5 particulate matter averaged over 150 micrograms per cubic metre; in some areas, they were 300 to 500 micrograms per cubic metre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air pollution in Turkey</span> Dirty air in the Republic of Turkey

In Turkey, air pollution is the most lethal of the nation's environmental issues, with almost everyone across the country exposed to more than World Health Organization guidelines. Over 30,000 people die each year from air pollution-related illnesses; over 8% of the country's deaths. Air pollution is particularly damaging to children's health. Researchers estimate that reducing air pollution to World Health Organization limits would save seven times the number of lives that were lost in traffic accidents in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air pollution in Delhi</span> Overview of the air pollution in the Indian city of Delhi

The air quality in Delhi, the capital territory of India, according to a WHO survey of 1,650 world cities, and a survey of 7,000 world cities by the US-based Health Effects Institute in August 2022, is the worst of any major city in the world. It also affects the districts around Delhi. Air pollution in India is estimated to kill about 2 million people every year; it is the fifth largest killer in India. India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma, according to the WHO. In Delhi, poor quality air irreversibly damages the lungs of 2.2 million or 50 percent of all children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air quality guideline</span>

The World Health Organization guidelines were most recently updated in 2021. The guidelines offer guidance about these air pollutants: particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO). The WHO first released the air quality guidelines in 1987, then updated them in 1997. The reports provide guidelines intending to give guidelines to reduce the health effects of air pollution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air pollution in Taiwan</span>

Air pollution in Taiwan is mostly derived from sources of domestic combustion, primarily the burning of fossil fuels. Taiwan's topography has been noted to be a contributing factor to its air pollution problem, leading to poor dispersal and trapping pollutants. Taipei, Taiwan's capital and largest city for example, is surrounded by mountains, and other industrial centers along the northern and western coasts of Taiwan are surrounded by high mountains.

Directive 2008/50/EC, or the Ambient Air Quality Directive, is an EU directive which limits sulphur dioxide, NO2 and other oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), lead, benzene and carbon monoxide concentrations from 2010. Hourly average concentrations of NO2 are limited to 200 μg/m3 and yearly average concentrations to 40 μg/m3. As of 2018 several EU member states are being sued for violating the limits: France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Environmental issues in North Macedonia include air and water pollution, deforestation, threats to endemic species and climate change. There is substantial degree of pollution in the air, water and land of North Macedonia. According to 2019 estimates, the country is considered to have one of the highest degrees of pollution in Europe.

Pollution in Korea has become diversified and serious due to rapid industrialization and urbanization since the 1960s. The causes of environmental pollution, both in South and North Korea, can be found in population growth, urban concentration, and industrial structure, similar to the rest of the world.

Particulate pollution is pollution of an environment that consists of particles suspended in some medium. There are three primary forms: atmospheric particulate matter, marine debris, and space debris. Some particles are released directly from a specific source, while others form in chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Particulate pollution can be derived from either natural sources or anthropogenic processes.

Karachi is the largest city in Pakistan and the 12th largest city in the world is facing a significant air pollution problem. The air quality of Karachi has been deteriorating over the years, with pollution levels often exceeding safe limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

References

  1. ↑ Plesch, Valerie. "Tiny nation of Kosovo has air pollution so bad that it rivals Beijing". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. ↑ Alija, Avdulla J.; Bresgen, Nikolaus; Bojaxhi, Ekramije; Krenn, Margit; Bajraktari, Ismet D.; Eckl, Peter M. (2018). "River pollution in the Kosovo: Cyto- and genotoxic effects of water samples in the primary rat hepatocyte assay". Toxicology and Industrial Health. 34 (8): 563–570. Bibcode:2018ToxIH..34..563A. doi:10.1177/0748233718773027. PMID   29871550.
  3. ↑ "WPS 365". eu.docs.wps.com. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  4. ↑ Authors, Group. "DIRECTIONS FOR REDUCING THE EMISSION OF POLLUTANTS FROM MOTOR VEHICLES IN PRISTINE REGION" (PDF).{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  5. ↑ Authors, Group. "State of the Air Reports" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2014-03-02.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  6. ↑ "Thinking Green" (PDF). Iniciativa Kosovare per Stabilitet. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  7. ↑ Baxhaku, Bashkim. "DIRECTIONS FOR REDUCING THE EMISSION OF POLLUTANTS FROM MOTOR VEHICLES IN PRISTINE REGION" (PDF).
  8. ↑ Dobruna, Aida. "LOW CARBON Pristina, MISSION IM(POSSIBLE)?!" (PDF).
  9. ↑ Authors, Group. "State of Air Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2014-03-02.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  10. ↑ Tahirsylaj, Syle. "Quality of Air in Urban and suburban Area's of the Pristina's and Meteorological Impact Conditions in Distribution of Pollution" (PDF).
  11. 1 2 Authors, Group. "State of the Air Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2014-03-02.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  12. ↑ "Raport per Gjendjen e Mjedisit" (PDF). Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  13. 1 2 "Air pollution from lignite -- based electricity generation in Kosovo" (PDF). Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. ↑ "Plani Zhvillimor Urban i Prishtines 2013-2023" (PDF). Kuvendi Komunal i Prishtines.
  15. ↑ "The State of Water in Kosovo" (PDF). Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  16. 1 2 "Kadastri i Ndotësve të Ujërave të Kosovës" (PDF). Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  17. ↑ "Ujërat e zeza në Taukbashçe!". 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ↑ "Puset në Fushën e Pajtimit do të rifunksionalizohen shumë shpejt". 19 February 2014.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ↑ Rexhepi, Kaltrina (September 2013). "17 Puset e Komunës për Gjelbërimin e Prishtinës".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gjendja e Mbeturinave" (PDF). Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  21. ↑ "Anketa e Mbeturinave Komunale 2012". Kosovo Agency of Statistics. Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  22. ↑ "Tokat bujqësore janë degraduar". August 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-08-11. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  23. ↑ "VLERAT E TRASHËGIMISË NATYRORE TË KOSOVËS" (PDF). INSTITUTI I KOSOVËS PËR MBROJTJEN E NATYRËS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

Kosovo Law on Environment Protection Archived 2017-05-17 at the Wayback Machine Kosovo Law on Air Protection EU Twinning Project to Support the Environment Sector Pristina WWTP Feasibility Study Archived 2014-03-02 at the Wayback Machine Kosovo Law on Spatial Planning Kosovo Law on Waste Factsheet for Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine

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