Analysis of Atmospheric Concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 and Their Impact on the Health Status of the Population in Urban Industrial Cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the European countries with the highest number of deaths related to air pollution and the poorest air quality. Exposure to air pollutants are linked to respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and lung cancer. The study analyzed data from the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute and the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the concentration of PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles from 8 different measuring stations for the period of 2014–2021. After that, the correlation of this data with the frequency of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in urban areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina was examined, according to data from the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which includes data from 10 cantonal institutes of public health, 3 clinical centers, 15 general and cantonal hospitals, and 80 health centers. The aim of the study was to confirm the impact of air pollution on public health in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on respiratory diseases caused by short-term and long-term exposure to PM 10 and PM 2.5 pollutants, which was ultimately confirmed. The conclusion is that the main direction of action in the fight against air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the transition to renewable energy sources, as well as the potential introduction of IoT sensor models for air quality monitoring.