Environmental situation in Ukraine during the war: in which cities was the air cleanest in 2023?
Air quality is one of the key indicators that affects the quality of life of citizens. Find out what the environmental situation in Ukrainian cities is now and what, besides the war, affects air quality in Ukraine
The environmental situation in Ukraine today depends on many factors, and of course, the full-scale invasion of russia is no exception. In addition to the usual factors, such as the operation of industrial facilities, the number of vehicles, etc., the fighting at the front, russian missile attacks and terrorist acts, such as the explosion at the Kakhovka Dam, leave their mark. Thus, Ukrainian soil, forests, and water suffer almost daily. The damage caused by russia to the Ukrainian environment has already exceeded 2 trillion hryvnias.
So, in which Ukrainian cities the air was cleanest in 2023, we will tell you further in the article.
How is the air tested in Ukraine?
The Ukrainian public air quality monitoring system LUN.Misto AIR has found out which Ukrainian cities had the cleanest air in 2023. Specialists measured the air quality "every second" throughout the year, checking the concentration of ultrafine PM 2.5 particles formed as a result of cars, heating systems, and fires. It is noted that these particles can negatively affect the heart and respiratory system.
The results of these studies are reflected in the Air Quality Index (AQI), the American Air Quality Index. It is believed that the lower the AQI value, the better for health:
– An AQI of 50 means that the air is clean;
– 51-100 - acceptable;
– 101-150 - air is saturated with impurities and can be an irritant for sensitive people;
– 151-200 - unhealthy;
– 201-300 - very unhealthy;
– 301+ - the air is dangerous.
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Air quality in Ukrainian cities
Today, experts monitor air pollution in 12 Ukrainian cities. You can check the air quality in your city on a special map. According to the study, in 2023, the cleanest air was in Kyiv, Odesa, and Lviv.
For example, in Odesa, the air was clean 92% of the time, and acceptable for breathing - 8%. An increase in the indicators, i.e., a deterioration in air quality, was recorded in January-March and late December.
In Kyiv, the air was clean 87% of the time, and acceptable for breathing 13% of the time. The increase in indicators was recorded in January-March and December 2023.
In Lviv, the air was clean 76% of the time and acceptable 24% of the time. Air quality deterioration occurred in January-April, half of September, and December.
The worst air quality indicators were recorded in Chernivtsi, Uzhhorod, and Ivano-Frankivsk. In a comment to UP.Zhyttya, experts noted that a significant deterioration occurred during the cold season, which could be due to a large percentage of users with individual heating that does not meet environmental standards. In addition, the possible reasons include the peculiarities of the landscape and architecture of cities that do not contribute to air circulation.
We remind you! Ukrainian nature and geography have repeatedly helped the Armed Forces of Ukraine gain an advantage on the battlefield. Read more about how fields, swamps, forests, mountains, and rivers are fighting together with the army against the russians in our previous article.
Photo: The Village
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