The air quality in Kosovo is far away from European standards and exceeding the allowed rates. Among the biggest polluters in Kosovo are considered the power plants of the Kosovo Energy Corporation, but also the old cars and coal used for heating during the winter, Koha Ditore reports. The risk from the polluted air had alerted the World Bank, who, through a survey conducted earlier in the year, said that within one year there are 800 premature deaths in Kosovo due to air pollution. The director of the World Health Organization in Kosovo, Skender Syla, said the air quality in Kosovo remains a threat to the health of the citizens and that more should be done in order to improve it. Syla also said Kosovo’s environment has historically been degraded as a result of industrial activities and other irresponsible activities which adversely affect the environment. According to him, there are some periods of the year when the rates exceed the normal parameters.