Smog covers southern Polish cities on Sunday evening. Poor air quality is recorded, among others, in Nowa Ruda and Rabka-Zdrój. Check the situation in your area.
On Sunday at 9 p.m. the worst air quality in terms of PM10 dust was in Nowa Ruda. The concentration of harmful particles in the air there reached 329 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), which means 548 percent of the daily norm. People also breathed poor quality air Rabka-Zdrój – 160 µg/m3 (267% of the daily norm), Nowy Targ – 154 µg/m3 (257% of the daily norm) i Rybnik – 150 µg/m3 (250% of the daily norm).
When it comes to the concentration of PM2.5 dust, the worst air quality, defined as bad, occurred in Nysa. The measuring station located there showed the concentration of this dust at the level of 99 µg/m3, which means 165%. daily norm.
In many places, especially in the south of the country, the air quality was unhealthy or average.
SMOG SERVICE TVNMETEO.PL. CHECK THE AIR QUALITY IN YOUR CITY
When the air quality is good
We talk about good quality air when the concentration of harmful dust does not exceed:
- in the case of PM10 dust – 60 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3);
- in the case of PM2.5 dust – 36 µg/m3;
- in the case of benzene – 10 µg/m3.
Sources of PM10 dust emissionsPolish Smog Alert
What is PM10
PM10 is a mixture of particles suspended in the air with a diameter not exceeding 10 micrometers. Its occurrence is related, among other things, to the combustion processes of solid and liquid fuels.
What is PM2.5
PM2.5 is a mixture of particles suspended in the air with a diameter not exceeding 2.5 micrometers. According to the World Health Organization, it is the most harmful atmospheric pollutant to humans. It reaches not only the respiratory system, but also the circulatory system. It stays in our body much longer.
What is benzene
Benzo(a)pyrene is a carcinogenic and mutagenic chemical compound that is a representative of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Benzo(a)pyrene has low acute toxicity and high chronic toxicity, which is related to its ability to accumulate in the body.
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