LJUBLJANA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Slovenian daily Vecer (evening) warned in its Saturday's commentary of increasing air pollution across the country.
The newspaper pointed out that it is the cause of 1,100 premature deaths in Slovenia each year.
It stressed that it is wrong to presume that the smog-filled towns of the 1970s and 80s were worse than what people face now, quoting the WHO's recent report that polluted air now kills more people each year than malaria and HIV combined around the world.
According to the WHO report, major sources of air pollution include inefficient modes of transport, household fuel and waste burning, coal-fired power plants, and industrial activities.
However, not all air pollution originates from human activity. For example, air quality can also be influenced by dust storms, particularly in regions close to deserts.
The daily commented that the measures in European countries are coming too slow, adding that some cities are at least capable of organising emergency measures, such as the temporary closing down of city centres for traffic, reducing driving speed in towns and above all clearly notifying the population.
