Air quality in Raciborz

What is the current level of air pollution in Raciborz?

Racibórz is a town in Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland on the banks of the Oder River. It is not far from the border with the Czech Republic. In 2019 it had an estimated population of around 55,000 people.

During the middle period of 2021, Raciborz was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 83. This United States Air Quality Index number is an internationally used set of metrics supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is used to compare the air quality in different cities throughout the world using comparable standards. It is calculated by using the levels of the six most commonly found pollutants. If figures are not all available, the figure is calculated using what information is there. As far as Raciborz is concerned, there were 4 recordings to calculate the figure from. These were for: PM2.5 - 23 µg/m³, PM10 - 38 µg/m³, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) - 15 µg/m³ and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - 7 µg/m³. These are quoted in micrograms/microns per cubic metre. At 23 µg/m³, PM2.5 is over twice the recommended safe level of 10 µg/m³. This has been recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

With air pollution at this level, the advice is to close doors and windows to prevent more dirty air from entering the room. Those of a sensitive disposition are advised to remain indoors or if travel outside is unavoidable, then a good quality mask is recommended. The table at the top of this page will help with that decision.

Does the level of air pollution in Raciborz vary throughout the year?

Air pollution can be affected by many things and, as such, can change very quickly according to local conditions.

Looking back at figures published by the Swiss air monitoring company IQAir.com for 2020 it can be seen that the best quality air was enjoyed during July when the recorded figure placed it in the “Good” category with a reading of 12 µg/m³. Otherwise, from February until the end of November (the exception being July), the air quality was “Moderate” with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. The remaining two months of the year were December and January when the quality of air was at its worst with figures outing it into the “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” bracket with figures between 35.5 and 55.4 µg/m³.

Records concerning air quality were first kept in 2019 when the annual average was 24.5 µg/m³. The following year saw a vet slight decline with the mean figure being 24.9 µg/m³. However, this may not be an accurate reflection of the air quality because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many vehicles were no longer used as the drivers were furloughed and not required to commute to and from work. There were also many factories and other non-essential production units which were temporarily closed in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.

Where does the polluted air in Raciborz come from?

The smog in Poland is one of the largest pollutants in Europe. This is due to the fact that its sources are elements of such substances as oxides of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and harmful PM10 (particulate matter) and PM2.5 dust as well as benzo (a) pyrene. Their emissions into the air often exceed permissible levels. Air pollution is dangerous because we inhale toxic dust instead of fresh air - the standards are exceeded in some places by up to 3,000 per cent. It should also be remembered that all harmful substances enter our homes. Often, during the heating season, a smog alarm is announced to warn residents of the dangers. This problem affects all of Poland, often larger cities and towns. Every year, a map is created that shows the most endangered places. Benzo (a) pyrene, which is listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as the most dangerous carcinogen. Often called the “silent killer", benzo (a) pyrene is one of the most dangerous components of smog. These are particles that are invisible to the naked eye and are formed during the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons.

The use of coal as a fuel for heating homes in winter is a major cause of pollution. In addition, it is worth noting that this coal is often burned in installations with very low efficiency. This is a visible problem in many cities. As shown by the data, in order to save money, waste and coal waste are used, i.e. sludge and fine coal. There were no standards in Poland that would clearly define the type of boiler in which to burn.

Another source of pollution is exhaust fumes from large factories or vehicles.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Raciborz?

In 2019, the anti-smog act was created due to the high air pollution in Poland. These are wide-ranging activities whose main goal is to introduce gradual changes and increase public awareness of the quality of the fuel used and harmful dust. The regulations have a common goal - to reduce harmful emissions in the coming years to generally accepted assumptions.

What are the effects it has on public health?

Breathing air with high concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, sulphur and nitrogen oxides, as well as ozone and carbon monoxide is associated with such diseases as: ischemic stroke, peripheral atherosclerosis, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arterial hypertension, heart rhythm or thromboembolic complications.

Lung cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in Poland. Every year in the country there are about 19,000 new cases. As many as 33 per cent of all male deaths due to cancer are related to lung cancer. Recently, more women also die from lung cancer (13 per cent) than from breast cancer (12.5 per cent). Today, air pollution (apart from smoking) is considered to be one of the most important pathogens.

In 2016, it was first proven that air pollutant particles can accumulate in the human brain, possibly contributing to the emergence and development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. And researchers have found that high concentrations of PM2.5 dust may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by as much as 92 per cent.