Smog in Poland remains at deadly levels: EU report
The European Environment Agency has released a new report examining air pollution across the continent, and the results for Poland are grim.
The report, Air Quality in Europe 2018, was published on 29 October and relies on data collected up to 2016 from around 2,500 cities in 41 countries. The authors examined the levels of several pollutants which are dangerous for humans, including PM10 and PM2.5 – microscopic particles produced mainly by burning fossil fuels which can cause DNA mutations, heart attacks, respiratory disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and premature death.
As seen on the map above, Poland remains one of the most toxic places on the continent – especially southern Poland, where Krakow is located.
The report was also damning when it comes to Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a carcinogen created by burning wood, coal, gasoline, and other substances. Of 20 worst cities in Europe for BaP, 19 are in Poland.
The Agency does suggest that the situation in Poland may be marginally improving as a result of government subsidies and other initiatives to replace foul-burning furnaces and other devices with cleaner technology. But it is clear from the report that Poland still has a long way to go.
Remember that you can check the level of smog in Krakow daily in the right sidebar of The Krakow Post website and read our tips on how to protect yourself during the coming winter months, when the danger is highest.
Why European Ea is not concerned about pollution in North Italy? As we can clearly see on map.
Who says they aren’t? Did you read the report? Anyway, the point is Polish breathe in bad air. We should have it on the list of t-do things. Quality of air in northern Italy, good or bad, will not change quality of life in Poland.
Thing about scale of pollution problem in Poland as compared to Italy.
It’s the Pole’s own fault:- they elect a histerycznie paranoiczny psychotyczny smrodek as their Great Fearless Leader and Eternal General Secretary and of course he fills up the place with bad smells!
There is a report that Krakow has suffered a major casualty: the mythical creature which has had to be re-named the SMOG WAWELSKI.
Spot on, Bibon;’) It seems a lot of people do not care at all here in Krakow:’/ Today for instance it’s x6 times the pm2.5 maximum level advocated by WHO(World Health Organization)and I’ve seen people on bikes or even running(!)w/o a mask(I’m cycling to work myself – w/ a mask)
Mówiąc o złym stanie powietrza w Polsce najczęściej ma się na myśli Kraków. To jednak błąd, bo problem smogu dotyczy całego kraju. Są miejsca, gdzie zanieczyszczenie jest często większe niż pod Wawelem. W ostatnich dniach jest tak chociażby w Zakopanem Tam epizod smogowy trwa od 30 grudnia, a w niedzielę średnie stężenie PM10 wyniosło 233 µg/m3. Zakopane może iść drogą Krakowa, który obniżył poziom informowania do 150 µg/m3. To nic nie kosztuje.