Sarajevo 2026: A City in Smog - Understanding Its Air Pollution Crisis

File photo of air pollution in Sarajevo. Photo Credit: Sarajevo Canton government

On January 23, 2026, the global air monitoring platform IQAir reported alarming figures: Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranked among the ten most polluted cities in the world. The night before, on January 22, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had soared past 400 — a level classified as hazardous. Fine particle concentrations (PM2.5) were far above the World Health Organization (WHO) limits, covering the city in thick smog and drastically reducing visibility.

Although rain and light winds helped temporarily improve the situation in the following days, air pollution remains a recurring issue every winter. During temperature inversions, cold and polluted air becomes trapped in Sarajevo’s valley, where it lingers until conditions change.

What the IQAir Data Reveals

According to IQAir, Sarajevo’s air quality fell into the “hazardous” range, with PM2.5 concentrations several times higher than the WHO’s recommended safe levels. Even when averaged over an entire year, the city’s 2024 PM2.5 value reached 30.8 µg/m³ — more than six times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Sarajevo’s geography plays a key role. Surrounded by mountains and sitting in a narrow valley, the city experiences minimal air circulation, causing pollutants to accumulate and linger for days. This natural trap makes Sarajevo one of Europe’s most pollution-prone cities.

Scientific Insights into the Causes

At the same time, researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and partner institutions released new findings from the SAAERO (Sarajevo Aerosol Experiment) project. Their detailed fieldwork revealed that Sarajevo’s wintertime pollution is far from uniform. Instead, it’s a complex blend of multiple sources that vary across neighborhoods and times of day.

Main Sources of Air Pollution

1. Residential Heating with Wood and Coal

The largest contributor to fine particulate pollution in Sarajevo is residential heating using solid fuels. Wood-burning stoves — especially during cold evenings — account for up to 60 percent of organic particulate matter measured in certain residential areas.

2. Cooking and Restaurant Emissions

In the historic districts, particularly Baščaršija, a substantial share of urban pollution comes from cooking emissions rather than heating. Restaurants using open-flame grills and wood-fired ovens release thick plumes of smoke that settle in the narrow streets.

3. Regional Pollution from Coal Power Plants

Another major pollutant is sulfur dioxide (SO₂), mainly emitted by aging coal power plants across the Western Balkans. The emissions drift into Sarajevo’s valley and combine with local pollution sources, worsening overall air quality.

Health Risks and Broader Impact

Researchers also detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) — known carcinogens — in the city’s air, particularly in residential zones. The combination of inefficient heating, poor air dispersion, and additional urban emissions explains why Sarajevo repeatedly records some of Europe’s worst particulate levels, occasionally surpassing those of megacities like Beijing.

The Path Forward

Data from IQAir and PSI’s research paint a clear picture: Sarajevo’s air pollution is a structural, multi-layered problem that cannot be solved by short-term weather changes alone. Sustainable improvements require modern heating systems, better urban planning, and reductions in regional emissions.

Only through coordinated action involving government, science, and local communities can Sarajevo escape this annual cycle of suffocating smog and work toward cleaner air for its residents.

Source: https://www.eurasiareview.com/ and https://www.iqair.com/