Ukraine’s Kyiv Blanketed in Smog as Fires Fuel Air Pollution Crisis
The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, is shrouded in thick smog today, forcing authorities to advise residents to stay indoors as air pollution levels soar. The pollution is largely attributed to a combination of peatland and other wildfires in the region, exacerbated by autumn temperature fluctuations, The Associated Press reports.
Waking to a pungent smell of burning and a hazy sky, some residents were seen wearing face masks. The city topped the list of most polluted major cities in a real-time database by IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring company, early Friday. While air quality has shown some improvement since then, the city remains a major concern.
“The likely cause of this is fires in the Kyiv region,” said Kyiv’s Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change.
Fires have been reported in the Vyshhorod district, located about 20 kilometers north of the capital.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources warned of increased concentrations of suspended particles like dust, soot, and smoke in the air. In some areas of the city, air pollution levels have reached the maximum of the 100-point scale.
Experts note that while climate change doesn’t directly cause fires, it significantly increases the risk of wildfires. Rising temperatures and drier conditions make it easier for fires to spread. This year, forest fires have burned almost twice as much tree cover globally compared to 20 years ago, according to the World Resources Institute.
Wildfire smoke, even at distances far from the fires, can severely deteriorate air quality. Fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from smoke poses immediate health risks, including coughing, and long-term dangers to lungs and heart health.
