Vares residents are still waiting for answers on lead exposure

After decades of economic decline, a recently built silver, lead and barite mine once offered hope to the small town of Vares in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, blood tests revealed that hundreds of residents near the mine were exposed to high levels of lead. Azra Berbic, the Deputy Director, Foundation Atelier for Community Transformation speaks about the lead poisoning case on the programme. Water scarcity is emerging as a critical issue this century. The United Nations estimates that demand could outstrip supply by forty percent by 2030. But this threat isn’t always due to drat: often its neglect. Across Europe, ageing pipelines lose a quarter of treated drinking water before it reaches homes. Across The Balkans explore why taps keep running dry. As Europe endures one of its most intense heatwaves in recent years, millions are heading to beaches and rivers to cool down. But not all waters are safe for swimming. While Bulgaria, Greece and Croatia have been deemed to rank among the best in quality in the Balkans, the EU Environment Agency has found that several of Albania’s bathing sites rank low. Across The Balkans, hosted by Nadja Muftic, is TRT World's programme focusing on the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.