The picture of air pollution across Ukraine as of the morning of 1 October is quite varied. The highest levels of harmful particulate matter are mainly in the west of the country. However, on average, no critical exceedances of pollutant levels have been recorded in cities.
EcoPolitic reports this based on data from the international monitoring platform IQAir.
Air quality in Kyiv this morning is fairly good, based on the average readings from all monitoring stations. The main type of pollution is PM2.5 particulate matter. Its concentration stands at 8.5 µg/m3. Meanwhile, the upper limit set by the World Health Organisation is 5.5 µg/m3.
However, levels exceeding the limits – including those classified as hazardous – have been recorded at certain locations. For example, on Kyrylivska Street, the air has an ‘orange’ pollution level, with a dust concentration of 36 µg/m3. This may pose a risk to people with sensitive respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Average pollution levels have been recorded on Sichovykh Striltsiv Street (18.8 µg/m3), Hotkevych Street (10.2 µg/m3) and Horlivska Street (11.5 µg/m3). In Velyki Dmytrovychi, near Kyiv, pollution levels are extremely unhealthy. The dust concentration there is more than 25 times the norm, standing at 140.1 µg/m³.
Moderate levels of pollution are also observed in the following regional centres:
- Ivano-Frankivsk — 29.7 µg/m3;
- Rivne — 13.9 µg/m3;
- Ternopil — 13.6 µg/m3;
- Chernivtsi — 12 µg/m3;
- Lviv — 11.7 µg/m3;
- Cherkasy — 10 µg/m3;
- Kherson — 9.6 µg/m3.
Cities where the air quality is good and is generally safe for people include:
- Mykolaiv — 8.5 µg/m3;
- Vinnytsia — 7.9 µg/m3;
- Zaporizhzhia — 7.2 µg/m3;
- Lutsk — 6.9 µg/m3;
- Odessa — 6.5 µg/m3. However, at a specific location on Pishonivska Street, extremely high levels of pollution have been recorded, with a PM2.5 concentration of 135.3 µg/m3;
- Dnipro — 6.4 µg/m3;
- Poltava — 6.1 µg/m3;
- Zhytomyr — 6.1 µg/m3;
- Kharkiv — 5.1 µg/m3;
- Chernihiv — 4.6 µg/m3;
- Khmelnytskyi — 4.1 µg/m3;
- Uzhhorod — 3.7 µg/m3.
EcoPolitic previously reported that exercising outdoors may have fewer health benefits if the air is polluted. It is therefore better to choose locations with cleaner air for jogging or working out.
