On 8 July, the air quality in the vast majority of Ukraine’s regional centres is fairly safe. However, some cities are experiencing moderate levels of pollution, and warnings have been issued regarding fires and emissions from industrial sites.
This is according to data from the international monitoring platform IQAir.
On average, air quality in Kyiv falls within the ‘green’ range. The level of PM2.5 particulate matter pollution stands at 6 µg/m³, which is only slightly above the World Health Organisation’s standard. This standard is set at 5.5 µg/m³.
However, at one location, monitoring equipment recorded a significant level of pollution. This refers to Sichovykh Striltsiv Street (formerly Artema Street). There, the air quality index is 133 according to the IQAir methodology, indicating an orange threat level. The concentration of PM2.5 is 48.4 µg/m3, which is almost nine times higher than the recommended value.
At this level of pollution, people with increased sensitivity are advised to limit time outdoors and keep windows closed.
In Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, air quality is assessed as moderate. The average level of particulate matter there is 10 and 9.3 µg/m3 respectively.
In other major cities of Ukraine, the average pollution level predominantly remains in the "green" zone. For the main pollutant, dust, the situation is as follows:
- Dnipro – 5.5 µg/m3;
- Odesa – 4.7 µg/m3;
- Lviv – 3.2 µg/m3;
- Vinnytsia – 3 µg/m3;
- Zhytomyr – 2.9 µg/m3;
- Poltava – 6.2 µg/m3;
- Lutsk – 3 µg/m3.
In some locations, mainly closer to the south of the country, fire hazard warnings have been issued. In Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih, industrial pollution warnings are in effect.
EcoPolitic previously reported that Ukrainian scientists have studied the impact of war on air quality. More details about this can be found in the article.
