As of the morning of February 24, according to air quality monitoring stations, the capital and its environs are experiencing high levels of air pollution.
This was reported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine with reference to information from the Kyiv City State Administration.
The ministry cited meteorological conditions, including low wind speeds, as the reasons for the poor air quality. As a result, harmful substances from various emission sources (industry, transportation, and others) are hardly dissipated, the Ministry of Environment explains. That is why pollutants and dust accumulate in the surface air layer.
According to the EcoThreat web resource, the map of air pollution in Kyiv as of 12:20 a.m. on February 24 looks like this:
Screenshot from ecozagroza.gov.ua.
Very poor air quality was recorded at 2 observation posts in Kyiv on the left bank and 1 on the right bank (burgundy marks):
Screenshot from ecozagroza.gov.ua.
At the same time, the city air monitoring system in Kyiv provided the following measurement results:
Screenshot from asm.kyivcity.gov.ua.
The SaveEcoBot pollution map as of 12:20 a.m. shows very harmful levels of air pollution (purple marks) at some observation points on the left bank of the capital:
Screenshot from saveecobot.com.
To reduce the negative impact on health, the Ministry advised citizens to
- stay outdoors whenever possible, especially during periods of intense smoke;
- keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke from entering the room;
- maintain water balance – drink plenty of water;
- use a mask or respirator, as well as an air purifier;
- do wet cleaning of the premises.
“People with diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems should pay special attention to these tips,” the Ministry of Environment emphasized.
The ministry also noted that the Air Quality Index, which is used to promptly inform the public about the state of air quality, indicates only the short-term air quality situation, but does not reflect the long-term (annual) air quality situation, which, according to officials, can vary significantly.
Earlier, local authorities in the capital reported a deterioration in air quality on February 12. At that time, weather conditions were also cited as the cause.
