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Amil Družić: Key Takeaways from the Franco-Bosnian Air Quality Conference

Amil Druzic/LinkedIn

Nov 15, 2024, 16:48

Amil Družić: Key Takeaways from the Franco-Bosnian Air Quality Conference

Amil Družić, Oncology and Radiotherapy Resident at the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, shared a post on Linkedin:

“I had the privilege of speaking at the Franco-Bosnian Air Quality Conference: From Pollution to Solution, an initiative by the French Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Emina Pašanović and Ena Porča, where we discussed the serious health effects of air pollution on our communities.

Key Takeaways:

Group 1 Carcinogens: IARC/WHO classifies pollutants like radon, PM2.5, PM10, formaldehyde, benzene, and asbestos as Group 1 carcinogens, with clear cancer risks.
ESCAPE Study: This study shows that each 10 µg/m³ increase in PM10 raises lung cancer risk by 22%, and a 5 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 raises it by 18%.
School Environment: Alarming pollutant levels were found in Bosnian schools, with PM10 at twice the safe limit and radon reaching 1008 Bq/m³ in some basements.
Lung Cancer in Bosnia: GLOBOCAN reports lung cancer as Bosnia’s leading cause of cancer deaths and the fourth overall cause of death in FBiH in 2023.

Bosnia and Herzegovina urgently needs comprehensive radon mapping, stricter air quality standards, and regular monitoring to protect public health.

Investing in clean air is essential, as the cost of prevention is far lower than treating preventable cancers.

Thank you to the organizers and participants for advancing solutions that will help Bosnia and Herzegovina breathe easier and live healthier.”

Amil Družić: Key Takeaways from the Franco-Bosnian Air Quality Conference

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Amil Družić, MD, is an Oncology and Radiotherapy Resident at the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, and a PhD student. He is a Young Cancer Professional (YCP) of European Cancer Organisation, a Subinvestigator at International Watch and Wait database for rectal cancer and European Melanoma Registry.

Amil is also a