Wood fuel

Starting in 2029, heating with wood and coal will be entirely banned in Sofia. The regulation for this change was adopted two years ago, and the city began enforcing restrictions last winter, initially targeting polluting vehicles in the city center.

Researchers at Thessaloniki's Aristotle University have warned that excessive use of fireplaces instead of other forms of heating creates dangerous pollution inside homes, saying that microparticles in closed spaces can exceed maximum safety levels set by European authorities within just two or three hours of lighting a fire.

The Environment Ministry on Monday issued a warning against the use of fireplaces and wood-burning stoves amid concerns of a build-up of toxic smog, especially in cities.

The ministry said that prevailing conditions on Monday and Tuesday of low winds and rising temperatures are conducive to the accumulation of particulates in the atmosphere that cause smog.