Education and Awareness on Environmental Pollution in Kosovo: A Threat to Public Health and Biodiversity

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Environmental Pollution

Environmental pollution is a global problem and is considered one of the greatest challenges of the century. Various pollutants are dispersed in water, soil, and air and can have physical, chemical, and biological origins, with human activity playing a major role in environmental pollution (Rozhaja and Jablanoviq, 1983; Kumar, 1998; Daci, 1998; AMMK, 2006-2007).
The main contributors to environmental pollution include industrialization, urbanization, population growth, waste, radioactivity, and chemicals (AMMK, 2006-2007).
Numerous natural and anthropogenic activities can disrupt the ecosystem and present a significant risk to human health and organisms, especially in developing countries, due to exposure to pollutants (Kampa & Castanas, 2008; Briggs, 2003).
With the increase in population and economic development, the amount of waste is growing rapidly, while relatively primitive recycling methods are responsible for major environmental pollution and health problems for humans (Yang et al., 2017).
On the other hand, energy consumption is increasing daily due to a higher standard of living and growing global population. A key factor in atmospheric changes is the burning of fossil fuels, the release of pollutants, and their ability to spread over large distances in the environment (Kampa & Castana, 2008; Bose, 2010).
Most energy comes from fossil fuels, and burning these materials causes environmental problems, especially global warming. Global warming is associated with rising sea levels, increasing droughts in tropical regions, hurricanes, floods, and the spread of diseases (Bose, 2010).
Environmental pollution and its resources impact the etiology of diseases, with exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and noise being sources of concern in most cases for humans (Briggs, 2003).
Furthermore, serious public health problems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, and cancer problems, and premature death, are associated with pollution. Additionally, environmental pollution is associated with hormonal disturbances, allergies, and growth and development issues (AMMK, 2011-2012).

Soil Pollution

 Various activities such as industrial, agricultural, urbanization, transportation, and waste disposal are considered the main pollutants of the soil. Other factors contributing to soil degradation include deforestation and forest burning, erosion, and other economic activities, etc. (AMMK, 2016).
The continuous impacts resulting from human activities are increasingly associated with the degradation of land surfaces, causing environmental and socio-economic damage (AMMK, 2015).
Soil pollution with heavy metals due to untreated industrial and urban discharges is a major threat to human well-being and ecological integrity. Long-term use of these contaminated waters for irrigation purposes can lead to increased health risks for humans through food chain contamination (Mahmood & Malik, 2014).
Another issue is the cultivation of plants in areas contaminated with significant amounts of heavy metals because prolonged consumption of such plants leads to serious chronic health problems in humans (Khan et al., 2007).

Air Pollution

 Air pollution is a major concern for the civilized world because it impacts human health and the environment. The main air pollutants are carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead. Long-term and short-term exposure to these pollutants is associated with an increased number of diseases, including conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, skin diseases, chronic diseases, and cancer (Balali-Mood et al., 2016).
Solid fuels are one of the sources of air pollution. Air is mainly contaminated by the complex mixtures of gases and particles produced from combustion. Such mixtures contain more than one harmful substance that increases the likelihood of respiratory infections (Smith, 2000; Smith et al., 2007).
Kosovo still faces the problem of air pollution, particularly in urban and industrial areas. Potential sources of air pollution include energy production, industry, transportation, and urban and industrial landfills. Pollutants emitted from these sources include CO, NO, CO2, etc., and particulate matter: PM10, PM2.5, etc., and they pose a serious threat to public health (AMMK, 2013-2014).

Water Pollution

Water is a very important resource for economic development and public health; therefore, the quality and scarcity of clean water is an increasing problem. Economic development, intensive agriculture, and urbanization are the main factors affecting water pollution. Furthermore, atmospheric precipitation, agricultural land washing, and industrial discharges from various activities have impacted the quality of water by affecting the values of physical, chemical, and biological parameters (AMMK, 2016).

The increase in population, hydrological variability, rapid urbanization, lack of sewage systems, and inadequate management have impacted the quality of surface water and contributed to the transmission of diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea, poliomyelitis, cholera, etc. (WHO, 2019; Olaniran, 2014).

Biodiversity in river ecosystems is continuously decreasing as a result of water pollution. Therefore, it is clear that there is an urgent need for addressing the development and treatment of water through close cooperation between science, governments, industry, and other stakeholders (Bilinski et al., 2010; Lee, 2012).

State of Rivers in Kosovo

Environmental pollution in Kosovo, especially surface water pollution, represents a significant problem due to untreated urban and industrial discharges (Alija et al., 2014). Furthermore, water samples from the Sitnica, Drenica, and Lepenci rivers, tested on primary hepatocytes, show a cytotoxic potential by increasing the frequency of necrotic cells in primary hepatocytes (Alija et al., 2016; Alija et al., 2018).

Additionally, research conducted on the erythrocytes of the fish species Rutilus rutilus along the Sitnica and Drenica rivers indicates a genotoxic potential, causing an increase in DNA damage (Comet assay) and a rise in micronucleus frequency, suggesting a potential genotoxic risk from pollution (Asllani et al., 2018; 2019).

On the other hand, studies along the Llap River show a higher number of species in the upper reaches, while a lower number is found in areas impacted by wastewater discharges and agricultural activities (Ibrahimi & Sejdiu, 2018).

Results from Gashi et al. (2020) indicate that the water quality of the Llap River does not meet the standards set by the WHO, and the distribution of pollutants (heavy metals) points to both natural and anthropogenic pollution from agricultural discharges, settlements, and wastewater from meat and juice factories.

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Disclaimer:
The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute professional advice. Always consult experts or professionals for detailed guidance regarding health or environmental issues.