Dust levels in several Bulgarian towns have remained above the norm throughout January, owing to the fog that has enveloped the country. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Dust levels in the air in the town of Pernik, twenty kilometres south of Sofia, have hit record highs over the last four days, the executive environmental agency said on Thursday.
Readings of harmful particles levels at specific points in Pernik beat the norm of 50 microgram per cubic metre more than five times, reaching 274.06 microgram per cubic metre, the agency said.
Authorities blamed the air pollution in the miners' town on thick fog that holds dust emitted by industry and traffic.
The news comes just days after Bulgaria's executive environmental agency raised an alert over the record-high concentration of dust particles in the air in the capital city of Sofia since the beginning of the year.
The past twenty days set a record in levels of the harmful particles, readings at specific points in Sofia exceeding the norm of 50 microgram per cubic metre more than twelve times, the agency said.
Experts have attributed the abnormally high pollution levels in the Bulgarian capital to the blanket of fog, road traffic and industrial emissions.
EU standard values for fine dust say a maximum of 50 microgram per cubic meter may be exceeded on up to 35 days per year, leaving the Bulgarian capital with no chance to comply.
Residents of the capital have even started wearing altered surgical masks to protect themselves from the poisonous dust in the city.