The first indicative air quality monitoring sensor has been put into operation in the Lviv region. This equipment was purchased as part of the Ukrainian-Finnish institutional cooperation project UFAIR. The sensor will operate in the city of Novoyavorivsk.
This was reported by the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture.
The project involves the purchase of six indicative sensors and two reference observation points. All equipment will comply with EU regulatory requirements.
"The commissioning of the first sensor is a practical step in the development of a modern air quality monitoring system in Ukraine. Its creation is a key condition for environmental safety and Ukraine's European integration," said Deputy Minister of Economy Ihor Zubovych.
Prospects for Ukrainian monitoring
During the launch of the first sensor, a technical meeting was held, where experts discussed the situation with air quality monitoring in Ukraine. In particular, they discussed European requirements for such systems, as well as challenges that hinder the full development of the domestic monitoring network.
Ukraine currently has a network of stationary monitoring stations. This network monitors the concentration of major air pollutants. However, there are several fundamental shortcomings:
- the quantity and coverage density of the network are insufficient;
- most stations require modernization;
- access to data needs improvement;
- Ukrainian legislation governing the system’s operation needs to be aligned with EU standards.
The sensor installation was carried out as part of a training session where participants learned to work with sensor monitoring equipment.
Overall, the UFAIR project, financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, is intended to enhance the capacity of national and regional authorities to provide the public with reliable and timely information about air quality. The project aims to align Ukraine’s air monitoring system with European standards, reduce the negative impact of pollution on human health and the environment, and help assess the effects of the war on Ukraine’s air quality.
EcoPolitic previously reported that Ukrainian scientists conducted the first study of the war’s impact on atmospheric air. Their findings are quite contrasting: peak pollution from explosions is combined with reduced emissions due to an overall decline in industrial sectors.
