January 27 (SeeNews) - Macedonia's environment ministry said it is proposing the curb the use of motor vehicles to tackle excessive air pollution in the country.
Environment minister Bashkim Ameti proposed to the government to introduce a traffic formula, under which motor vehicles with odd and even number plates will alternate driving on odd-number days and even-number days, the environment ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Another proposal calls for a mandatory 50% reduction of car use by all state and public institutions, according to the statement.
The Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) measured a PM2.5 level of 152 µg/m3 in the capital city of Macedonia on Thursday in 1700, which is defined as unhealthy. PM2.5 (particulate matter) refers to particles less than 2.5 μm in diameter suspended in the atmosphere. Major sources of primary PM2.5 are combustion in the energy industries and road transport as well as residential sources.
The index measures the air quality in more than 60 countries worldwide. According to a study conducted by Macedonia's Institute of Public Health and quoted by local media, some 1,300 people die each year in the country due health problems related to air pollution.