Air pollution effect on morbidity of the population of the Republic of Srpska

Abstract

Introduction: Air pollution is caused by the emission of harmful gaseous and particulate matter, resulting mainly from human activity, but also by emission from natural sources. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to investigate the most common air pollutants in the Republic of Srpska region (one of the entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and their effect on population health, as well as to compare the obtained results with the European and world data. Patients and Methods: We used a descriptive study approach to analyze the health of the population in the Republic of Srpska, through data obtained by the Public Health Institute of the Republic of Srpska, for the five-year period. Results: The population of the Republic of Srpska is mostly affected by circulatory system diseases, followed by neoplasms. Conclusion: Bearing in mind the pathophysiological mechanisms by which air pollution is involved in the onset and exacerbation of cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer and other diseases, as well as their representation in our population, one can draw a parallel between the air quality in the Republic of Srpska and the trend of the morbidity of its population.

Keywords

• air pollution
• morbidity
• particulate matter