Environmental map shows waters highly polluted at Vlora, Durr쳠and Kavaja

Tirana, May.21- A study, which has produced maps of beaches in Albania where pollution exceed World Health Organization limits, reveals that some of the most popular tourist spots in Albania suffer twice the average levels of pollution as in other European beaches.
The new study from the Institute of Public Health, (IPH) about pollution levels along Albania’s coastline is raising concerns over the impact of unregulated development, just as the tourist season is about to begin.
Specialists monitored nine areas that have experienced an upsurge in development in recent years, revealing that swimming in these areas could be a health hazzard.
According to the report, authorized by the ministry of health, the beaches of Vlora, Durr쳠and Kavaja, which have seen continuous and sometimes chaotic development, are assigned red flags, due to high levels of urban waste polluting coastal waters.
These are some of Albania’s most important tourist areas which see large numbers of tourists over the summer, especially from neighboring Kosovo.
High levels of pollution have also caused concerns in the capital Tirana, where the levels of dust in some areas are ten times the European average. “There are 60 kg-s of dust particles in the air for every citizen of the capital,” according to Xhemal Mato, executive director of Eko-L췩zja, a coalition of environmental NGOs.
The increasing pollution has coincided with growing numbers of cancer cases. According to IPH, the number of cases in Tirana last year was 20 per cent higher than ten years ago.
This study presents a disturbing and challenging scenario for the government to respond to if it wishes to safeguard the environment, which is key to the continuing growth of the tourism industry.