North Macedonia remains one of the most polluted countries in Europe and at the same time leads the European ranking with 146 premature deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants. Macedonia’s indicator is several times higher than the European Union average, which in 2023 was 41 premature deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants. The Eurostat indicator measures the number of premature deaths attributable to exposure to fine particles in the air, those that occur before the expected age of death, calculated according to life expectancy in each country, gender and age group. The European objective is to reduce by at least 55%, compared to 2005, the health impacts of air pollution expressed through premature deaths from PM2.5 by 2030. The threshold set for the EU is around 190.600 deaths in 2030. With over 182 deaths recorded in 2023, the European Union as a whole has already fallen below the target level, but the situation varies significantly from one country to another.
The data show a strong gap between the Balkans and the northern and western parts of Europe. After Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (139 deaths per 100 inhabitants), Serbia (132 deaths per 100 inhabitants), Albania (129 deaths per 100 inhabitants), Kosovo (121 deaths per 100 inhabitants), Montenegro (89 deaths per 100 inhabitants). Neighboring countries of the European Union also show high levels, such as Bulgaria (104 deaths per 100 inhabitants), or Greece (98 deaths per 100 inhabitants). In the rest of the ranking are the Nordic countries, such as Finland with only one premature death per 100 inhabitants, Sweden two, Estonia three and Norway four, while the record is in Iceland where the indicator is zero.
Fine PM2.5 particles, which penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, continue to pose a serious threat to citizens’ health. The latest report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that the average concentration of PM2.5 in North Macedonia was 22.3 micrograms per cubic meter, more than four times the level that the World Health Organization considers safe. This is the highest level recorded among the Western Balkan countries. According to the OECD, air pollution is not only an environmental problem. It is directly linked to an increase in cases of heart disease, lung disease and stroke, while also bringing high costs to the country’s health system and economy. Thousands of citizens are exposed to polluted air every day, especially during the winter months, when pollution levels peak.
The main sources of pollution remain the use of coal for power generation, heating of households with wood and solid fuels, heavy traffic and industrial emissions. The combination of these factors, together with climatic conditions, causes pollutants to linger for long periods over cities. The OECD assesses that the country has made progress by adopting the National Air Protection Plan and improving pollution monitoring, but emphasizes that stronger measures are needed. Investments in clean energy, modern public transport and more efficient heating systems are considered essential to reduce pollution and protect the health of citizens. If these measures are not implemented at a faster pace, warns the OECD, air pollution will continue to be one of the greatest threats to public health and sustainable development in North Macedonia. (koha.mk)