Balkan Cities Top European Air Pollution Chart

Six cities in the Balkans have made it into the top ten most polluted cities in Europe in data published by the Guardian newspaper.

The newspaper analysed data on ultra-fine pollution particles, called PM2.5, from the World Health Organisation, WHO, finding that the town of Tetova in north-western Macedonia was the most polluted city in Europe excluding Turkey.

It has an annual mean score of 81 micrograms of PM2.5 particles per cubic metre. 

The town of Tuzla in Bosnia and Herzegovina placed second, with a score of 65, while the capital of Macedonia, Skopje, was third on the list at 45 micrograms per cubic metre.

Pljevlja in Montenegro took seventh place with a measure of 42, and another Macedonian city - the town of Bitola - placed ninth, with 40. 

Tackling air pollution in Macedonia, which claimed three of the top ten spots on the list, has proved an intractable problem while political problems have prevented effective action. 

The winter months see the worst air quality, with people sometimes turning out to protest about the unhealthy pollution.

A week ago, the Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, DOM party - the country's green political force - accused authorities of not doing enough to curb dangerous pollution in Skopje and other major towns.

A free bus transport provided in Skopje to cut down on car traffic was doing little to tackle the overall problem, it said.

"Bearing in mind that the air pollution is affecting all larger Macedonian towns, DOM insists that the government should declare a state of emergency," the party said. 

It demanded measures such as a no-vehicle zone, lower electricity prices to encourage the use of cleaner energy to heat homes, and banning vehicles that do not meet...