Air monitoring in the capital: results of Mobility Week and Car-Free Day

As part of Mobility Week, which took place in Belarus from 16 to 22 September, Belhydromet specialists conducted air quality monitoring in Minsk.

On 21 and 22 September, samples were taken at three locations agreed upon with the Minsk City Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection: Gorky Park, the intersection of Yakub Kolas and Kulman streets, and near the Museum of Boulders.

On 21 September, in the area of the recreation zone (Gorky Park) and at the intersection of Yakub Kolas and Kulman streets, and in the area of the recreation zone (Museum of Boulders), the concentration of nitrogen dioxide ranged from 0.13 to 0.21 of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC); in the area of the recreation zone (Museum of Boulders) it was below the method's detection limit. The concentration of formaldehyde in the area of the recreation zone (Museum of Boulders) was 0.33 of the MPC; the concentration at the other points was below the method's detection limit.

On 22 September, a slight decrease in the level of atmospheric air pollution was observed. Thus, the concentration of nitrogen dioxide ranged from 0.11 to 0.15 of the MPC in the area of the recreation zone (Gorky Park) and at the intersection of Yakub Kolas and Kulman streets; in the area of the recreation zone (Museum of Boulders) it remained unchanged and was below the method's detection limit. The concentration of carbon monoxide ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 of the MPC. The concentration of formaldehyde was below the method's detection limit at all three points.

Such indicators confirm that giving up unnecessary car trips and switching to bicycles or public transport really does help us breathe cleaner air. Mobility Week is a good occasion to check how the city is becoming more environmentally friendly.

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