Monitoring today, changing tomorrow: air quality in Chișinău
source: noi.md
Starting from smog in cities to contaminated indoor air, air pollution is representing a major health threat. Combined, atmospheric pollution and indoor air pollution cause the deaths of around 7 million people worldwide every year.
Is air pollution a problem in Chisinau? Find out about air quality in your area and recommendations to reduce your exposure to polluted air in this article!
How does the air we breathe affect us?
Air pollution is the accumulation of substances in the atmosphere that have harmful effects on human health and the environment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 out of 10 people breathe air with high levels of pollutants. This is a major cause of illness and premature death and constitutes the biggest health risk in Europe.
The quality of the air we breathe has a direct impact on our health. Research has linked air pollution to serious health problems, adverse birth outcomes and even premature death. Heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of premature death attributed to air pollution, followed by lung disease and lung cancer. Polluted air can also cause allergies, reduce quality of life and affect children's development.
Breathing the same air, but affected differently
The health effects of air pollution depend not only on exposure but also on people's vulnerability. Vulnerability to the impacts of air pollution may increase as a result of age, pre-existing health conditions or individual behaviors, for example smoking.
Furthermore, people of lower socio-economic status tend to live in environments with poorer air quality, often industrial areas with poorly developed infrastructure and inadequately managed waste. Social and economic inequalities play a significant role, as disadvantaged communities are the most affected and often have fewer resources to cope with the harmful effects of pollution and to access health services, thus perpetuating a vicious cycle of inequality and negative health impacts.
We are responsible for today's air quality
Although there are some natural sources of air pollution, such as volcanic eruptions and dust storms, human activity is the main cause of air quality degradation. The burning of fossil fuels, industrial emissions and road traffic are major contributors to pollutants in the atmosphere. Industry generates emissions of toxic gases and particulate matter, while burning coal and oil releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Cars contribute to pollution through emissions of nitrogen oxides and fine particles from engines.
Other human activities contribute to air pollution, such as the use of pesticides in agriculture, mining, some toxic household products and waste burning, which have an equally significant impact on a large scale.
Urbanization, the process of growth and development of cities, has also led to an increase in emissions and pollutants, but also to their concentration in a limited area. It is estimated that more than 80% of people living in urban areas where air quality is monitored are exposed to pollution levels exceeding WHO guideline limits.
Types of pollutants and their origins
As there are several sources of air pollution, there are also different types of pollutants present in the atmosphere. Particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ground-level ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) are now recognized as the pollutants that most seriously affect human and environmental health.
source: tvrmoldova.md
Particulate matter (PM) refers to the sum of all solid and liquid particles suspended in the air and is considered the main contributor to human health degradation. PM can vary in size and is defined according to its aerodynamic diameter. The most common are PM2.5 and PM10 which refer to atmospheric particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (or about 3% of the diameter of a human hair) respectively 10 micrometers. Being very small, these particles are able to travel deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream along with the air we breathe, causing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The main sources of PM are location-specific and typically include traffic and transportation, industrial activities, power plants, construction sites, waste burning.
Emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) originate from the burning of fossil fuels in transportation, industry or heating.
Air pollution and climate change - a vicious circle
Air pollution is closely linked to climate change - the main driver of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels, which is a major contributor to air pollution.
Due to a warming climate, the Earth is experiencing more extreme weather conditions, such as heat waves and droughts, which can have a negative impact on air quality. Heat waves lead to an increase in ground-level ozone pollution, because the chemical reactions that create ozone in the atmosphere occur more often at higher temperatures. During heat waves, high-pressure regions create stagnant air that concentrates air pollutants in one area. Prolonged high temperatures caused by a warming climate often lead to drought conditions where forest fires, which release carbon monoxide and particulate matter, become more frequent. Dry and dusty air during warm weather also increases the amount of particulate pollution.
This creates an unhealthy cycle where air pollution leads to a warming climate, which in turn leads to more air pollution.
What is the situation in Chișinău?
In Moldova, the Environmental Agency is the governmental institution that collects data on the country's air through its 18 ground-based stations. Data is then analysed at the Environmental Agency's Air Quality Laboratory. The national air quality monitoring network includes 6 fixed monitoring stations in Chisinau municipality. The air quality monitoring stations are located in areas with the highest concentration of emission sources (industrial zones) and high flow of automobile transportation. Samples are taken on a set schedule three times a day and analyzed in the laboratory.
According to the collected data, in Chișinău there is a gradual increase in the number of days exceeding the established limits of pollutants in the atmosphere. Between 2003-2018, from 79 to 266 days per year exceeding these limits were recorded.
The 2024 bulletins show that on most days this year the concentrations of some pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, exceeded the maximum permissible standard in Chișinău.
Monitoring is the first step in solving the problem
Until 2024, the Environmental Agency was the only institution collecting air quality data in Chișinău.
As of January 2024, 10 sensors measure PM2.5 and PM10 pollution levels, temperature, humidity and pressure at different locations in Chișinău. They provide information in real time, with data updated every 3 minutes - a major advantage over the national network which only provides data for certain parts of the day. The data is also available online to the general public in an accessible and user-friendly way.
The sensors were installed by the NGO "Rural Renaissance", in a project which aims to raise awareness of air pollution and encourage more public and private institutions or economic agents to install monitoring sensors, including outside Chișinău.
Monitoring air quality is a crucial step in tackling pollution because it helps to identify the sources of pollution, as well as the areas and time periods where pollutant levels are highest. Ultimately, monitoring influences the effectiveness of measures taken to tackle the problem.
You can check the air quality in your area right now! Go to https://moldova.aqi.eco/en and draw your own conclusions.
The quality of the air we breathe depends on the lifestyle we choose every day
Addressing the problem of polluted air, as well as interconnected climate change, requires large-scale actions. These actions depend on decisions taken at global and national level, but ordinary citizens can play a role in influencing them.
Each of us has a certain footprint on the environment and the air we breathe. We are contributing to air pollution and global warming through our resource-intensive lifestyles: we produce and consume more than ever before, and as a result we generate more greenhouse gases and air pollutants.
Our impact as individuals is significant, and it becomes even greater when we share information and good practices with our peers. Here are some tips to protect yourself from polluted air, but also to make sure that your daily choices do not worsen the state of the environment:
- Choose public transportation when you can. Traffic is the main cause of air pollution in Chișinău. When you choose to use public transport or a bicycle instead of your personal car, you contribute to reducing emissions and pollutants, as well as easing traffic congestion.
- Save energy. Turn off lights or any energy-consuming appliances when you leave home or when you no longer need them. If it is possible, choose a supplier of renewable energy and make sure your home is well insulated. Electricity and heating are the biggest consumers of fossil fuels that cause the most damage to air quality.
- Don't burn trash. Burning waste is a dangerous practice for your health and the environment that releases pollutants into the atmosphere. Instead, try to reduce your consumption of items that become instant waste such as packaging and disposables. Consider starting to compost the organic waste as well.
- Look after your health. Check https://moldova.aqi.eco/en regularly to keep up to date on the air in your area. Don't spend a lot of time and avoid exercising in areas with high pollution or near traffic. When you have to be in such an environment for a long period of time, use a protective mask.
- Get involved! Forward this article to your loved ones and talk to others about the importance of taking action. Watch what local authorities are doing on this issue and use your voice where you think more can be done.
Air pollution is a challenge for public health and the environment, but solutions are within our control and can be implemented today. It is essential that we are aware of the state of the environment we live in and actively engage in building a more environment-friendly future.
