Pollution levels: is the air safe in Kyiv and regional centres on 2 October?

Pollution levels: is the air safe in Kyiv and regional centres on 2 October? Shutterstock
Maria Semenova

The air is most polluted in Rivne, and cleanest in Uzhhorod

As of the morning of 2 October, air quality in most regional centres across Ukraine is fairly good and poses no threat to people. However, there are also towns with moderate levels of pollution, mainly in western Ukraine.

This is evidenced by data from the international monitoring platform IQAir.

Based on average figures, air quality in Kyiv is assessed as good. The key pollutant is PM2.5 fine particulate matter. Its concentration stands at 7.9 µg/m3. The World Health Organisation has set the upper limit for this indicator at As of the morning of 2 October, air quality in most regional centres across Ukraine is fairly good and poses no threat to people. However, there are also towns with moderate levels of pollution, mainly in western Ukraine.

This is evidenced by data from the international monitoring platform IQAir.

Based on average figures, air quality in Kyiv is rated as good. The key pollutant is PM2.5 particulate matter. Its concentration stands at 7.9 µg/m3. The World Health Organisation has set the upper limit for this indicator at 5.5 µg/m3.

However, there are also locations within the capital where pollution levels are moderate. These include Sichovykh Striltsiv Street, where particulate matter levels stand at 13.9 µg/m3, Kyrylivska Street (12.8 µg/m3), Hotkevych Street (9.8 µg/m³) and Horlivska Street (13 µg/m³).

In some towns and villages near the capital, the morning air is dangerously polluted. For example, in Velyki Dmytrovychi, the dust concentration stands at 133.7 µg/m3, which is more than 24 times the standard limit.

Moderate levels of pollution have been recorded in the following regional centres (with dust concentrations indicated):

  • Rivne – 17.7 µg/m3;
  • Ternopil – 12.5 µg/m3;
  • Ivano-Frankivsk – 12 µg/m3;
  • Vinnytsia – 11.5 µg/m3;
  • Chernivtsi – 9.1 µg/m3.

In the other regional centres, IQAir classifies the pollution level as low:

  • Dnipro – 9 µg/m3;
  • Odessa – 8.4 µg/m3;
  • Zhytomyr – 7.8 µg/m3;
  • Kherson – 6.8 µg/m3;
  • Zaporizhzhia – 6 µg/m3;
  • Khmelnytskyi – 5.4 µg/m3;
  • Lviv – 5.3 µg/m3;
  • Chernihiv – 5.2 µg/m3;
  • Mykolaiv – 5 µg/m3;
  • Lutsk – 4.9 µg/m3;
  • Cherkasy – 4.3 µg/m3;
  • Kharkiv – 4.2 µg/m3;
  • Poltava – 2.6 µg/m3;
  • Uzhhorod – 2.6 µg/m3.

It should be noted that enemy attacks are a factor in local pollution. Following attacks, pollutant levels near the impact site can be up to ten times higher than normal.5,5 мкг/м3.

However, there are also locations within the capital where pollution levels are moderate. These include Sichovykh Striltsiv Street, where particulate matter levels stand at 13.9 µg/m3, Kyrylivska Street (12.8 µg/m3), Hotkevych Street (9.8 µg/m3) and Horlivska Street (13 µg/m3).

In some towns and villages near the capital, the morning air is dangerously polluted. For example, in Velyki Dmytrovychi, the dust concentration stands at 133.7 µg/m3, which is more than 24 times the standard limit.

Moderate levels of pollution have been recorded in the following regional centres (with dust concentrations indicated):

  • Rivne – 17.7 µg/m3;
  • Ternopil – 12.5 µg/m3;
  • Ivano-Frankivsk – 12 µg/m3;
  • Vinnytsia – 11.5 µg/m3;
  • Chernivtsi – 9.1 µg/m3.

In the other regional centres, IQAir classifies the pollution level as low:

  • Dnipro – 9 µg/m3;
  • Odessa – 8.4 µg/m3;
  • Zhytomyr – 7.8 µg/m3;
  • Kherson – 6.8 µg/m3;
  • Zaporizhzhia – 6 µg/m3;
  • Khmelnytskyi – 5.4 µg/m3;
  • Lviv – 5.3 µg/m3;
  • Chernihiv – 5.2 µg/m3;
  • Mykolaiv – 5 µg/m3;
  • Lutsk – 4.9 µg/m3;
  • Cherkasy – 4.3 µg/m3;
  • Kharkiv – 4.2 µg/m3;
  • Poltava – 2.6 µg/m3;
  • Uzhhorod – 2.6 µg/m3.

It should be noted that enemy attacks are a factor in local pollution. Following attacks, pollutant levels near the impact site can be up to ten times higher than normal.

Tags: ,
Related
How the October 22 attacks affected pollution: air quality in Kyiv and major cities
How the October 22 attacks affected pollution: air quality in Kyiv and major cities

Ivano-Frankivsk has the dustiest air, while Vinnytsia has the best air quality

War, investment and decarbonisation: Ukraine is preparing over 70 events as part of COP31
War, investment and decarbonisation: Ukraine is preparing over 70 events as part of COP31

Emissions caused by military operations are comparable to those of entire countries

No critical hazards: air quality in Kyiv and regional centres on 21 October
No critical hazards: air quality in Kyiv and regional centres on 21 October

The air is currently cleanest in Uzhhorod and Rivne

How safe is the air in the capital and regional centres of Ukraine on 19 October?
How safe is the air in the capital and regional centres of Ukraine on 19 October?

The air in Kharkiv is currently the most polluted, whilst that in Zhytomyr is the cleanest