Macedonians Trade Blame Over Deadly Smog

Macedonia's opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, have demanded an emergency parliamentary session on the subject of air pollution, calling also for the resignation of the Mayor of Skopje, Koce Trajanovski.

"The Macedonian people demand clean air. The SDSM has submitted information to parliament about the terrible pollution and we demand an emergency session," one SDSM deputy, Vasko Kovacevski, said.

"That the government is spending of millions on monuments and advertisements while the people breathe extremely polluted air is unacceptable," he added, referring to Skopje 2014, the government's pricey makeover plan for the city.

The Ministry of Health recently measured 180 micrometers per cubic meter of air in Skopje, which is almost four times the maximum accepted level of 50. In some parts of the city the measured pollution level surpassed 1,000 micrometers.

PM10 particles are small breathable specks that are considered one of the worst air polluters. Due to their small size they can penetrate the lungs and are known to cause cancers and other diseases.

The ruling VMRO DPMNE party rebuffed accusations of neglect, saying that at least the government was measuring the toxicity of the air.

For several years, air pollution levels in Skopje and in the towns of Bitola, Kicevo, Tetovo and Kavadarci have been reaching record highs.

During the winter they occasionally reach 360 index points. According to European air quality standards this is seven times higher than the normal level and enough to warrant declaring a health warning.

The city of Skopje from this year started sprinkling the streets with a calcium-magnesium-acetate agent designed to capture air pollutants. 

It also says it is planning...