Air quality in Cluj-Napoca

What is the current level of air pollution in Cluj-Napoca?

Cluj-Napoca is the fourth-most populous city in Romania, often known as just Cluj. It can be found in the Someșul Mic River valley, which is in the north western part of the country. It is some 445 kilometres from the capital of Bucharest. A census conducted in 2011 estimated the population to be approximately 325,000 people which ranked it as the second most populous city after the capital. When the metropolitan area is taken into account, the number swells to 411,500.

At the beginning of 2022, Cluj was enjoying a period of “Good” air quality with a US AQI reading of 40. This United States Air Quality Index number is calculated using the levels of six of the most prolific air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, which are PM2.5 and PM10. It can then be used as the metric when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. If data is unavailable for all 6 pollutants, a figure can still be calculated by using what figures there are. There were five pollutants measured in Cluj which were; PM2.5 - 9.7 µg/m³, PM10 - 38.4 µg/m³, ozone (O₃) - 86.6 µg/m³, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) - 12.2 µg/m³ and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - 5.2 µg/m³. This level of PM2.5 falls within the level recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which is 10 µg/m³ or less, although no level of air pollution can be regarded as being safe.

When air pollution is classified as being “Good”, doors and windows can safely be opened to allow a breath of fresh air to enter the home. All forms of outdoor activity can be enjoyed without fear of dirty air and its effects. There is a downloadable app from AirVisual.com which is suitable for all operating systems and gives the latest information regarding air quality in real-time.

Does the level of air pollution vary throughout the year in Cluj-Napoca?

Air quality is very volatile as it can be affected by many variables. Looking back at the figures for 2020, published by IQAir.com, it can be seen that Cluj experienced “Moderate” air quality in January until the end of April, August and in again in October and November. To qualify as “Moderate” figures should fall between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. The remaining months of May, June, July and September achieved the WHO target figure of being less than 10 µg/m³. The cleanest month was September with a reading of 7.5 µg/m³. Overall, the dirtiest month was January with a reading of 22.5 µg/m³. The reading for December was not available.

Records pertaining to air quality were first kept in 2018 when a figure of 21.4 µg/m³ was noted. The following year showed a marked improvement with an annual average of 15.7 µg/m³. In 2020, another improvement was recorded when the figure was 13.1 µg/m³. This low figure was almost to be expected because it may have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as many vehicles were no longer in daily use because the offices were closed, in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. Many factories and non-essential production units were also required to close which removed their emissions from the atmosphere, albeit on a temporary basis. Worldwide, cities reported a much better quality of air due to the general lack of traffic pollution in city centres due to the pandemic.

Is there a main source of air pollution in Cluj-Napoca?

It is estimated that 900 people from Cluj die every year due to air pollution. The biggest polluter is emissions from the transportation sector.

In winter, between 50 and 70 per cent of the mass of aerosols, both at ground level and at high altitude, comes from the combustion of biomass (by stove fire, agricultural fire or garden fire).

What can be done to improve air quality in Cluj-Napoca?

Air quality plans must include measures to reduce and control emissions from among the main categories of nitrogen dioxide generating activities: - traffic; - industry and services; - residential and institutional sources.

The most effective way to limit pollution at the continental level, especially in winter, is to tackle the problem of biomass combustion through technological developments and strict regulation of how it is used.

Some of the following suggestions have been put forward as possible solutions to air pollution;

• selective reuse and recycling system for waste, by means of a special device that produces plastic flakes after processing the collected waste
• promotion of electric means of transport, of buses based on solar energy
• stimulating the more frequent use of bicycles and increasing the number of bicycle lanes
• the creation of car parks in the entrance areas of the city, in order to reduce the flow of traffic and the adoption of a system of taxes / fines that educates the population to be more responsible for the environment and to reduce the pollution generated by cars and traffic
• an interactive application that combines information on pollution, activities and volunteer programs that help improve air quality and reduce pollution in the city.

What are the detrimental effects of breathing in polluted air?

In the case of carcinogenic diseases, medical statistics show that air pollution causes, in addition to lung cancer, other malignant tumours of the lip, oral cavity, trachea and bronchi, and other cancers.

Suspended dust, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone are currently recognized as the three most serious pollutants that affect human health. Long-term and maximum exposures to these pollutants vary in severity and impact, from minor effects on the respiratory system to premature death. About 90 per cent of Europe's city dwellers are exposed to pollutants in concentrations above levels of air quality that are considered harmful to health. For example, fine powders in suspension (PM2.5) reduce the life expectancy in the EU by more than eight months. Benzopyrene is an increasingly worrying carcinogen that, in many urban areas, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, is present in concentrations that exceed the threshold set for the protection of human health.