The world's dirtiest city has been identified: Citizens are being warned to avoid being outdoors.

The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, has risen to the top of the list of cities with the highest air pollution in the world today, with the air quality index reaching levels as high as 485.

63 TIMES ABOVE THE REFERENCE VALUE

According to data from the technology company IQAir, which monitors air pollution levels in major cities around the world, the concentration of breathable particulate matter in Sarajevo has reached 485, which is 63 times above the World Health Organization's air quality reference value.

CALL TO AVOID OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Due to the hazardous levels of air pollution for human health, city residents have been urged to refrain from exercising outdoors, keep their windows closed, and wear masks while outside. The Sarajevo Canton Government has announced that the "alert" status under the Emergency Measures Plan is in effect due to the extreme air pollution. Weather conditions that will help improve the air quality in the city are expected to start becoming effective tomorrow or by Thursday.

SECOND CITY DHAKA

Following Sarajevo in the IQAir ranking are Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, Chengdu, the fourth most populous city in China, and Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Sarajevo, with a population of approximately 315,000, is located in a valley surrounded by mountains and hills, and due to this structure, it frequently experiences air pollution problems during the winter months. Experts point out that the situation is worsened by the temperature inversion phenomenon experienced in winter, the use of low-quality fossil fuels for heating, old vehicles that run on diesel fuel, and high buildings that obstruct wind flow.