Bielsko-Biala air quality map

How much quality information about the state of the air can be seen on the air pollution map for Bielsko-Biala?

There is a great deal of very informative facts and figures on the air pollution map for Bielsko-Biala and is easily accessed by selecting the map icon on the main page which will encourage a new page to open filled with all the relevant information.

When the new page opens, the viewer will see an overall colouration which is an indication of the current air quality. The current colour is greenish/yellow which shows the air quality to be “Moderate”. Available colours range from pale green to dark purple and are used as standard across the entire IQAir website. A full explanation of their meaning can be found in the legend at the foot of the page. Darker colours indicate worsening air quality.

There are many coloured discs superimposed over the city which represent the locations of the ground-level air monitoring stations which provide the city with data about air quality. In the centre of each disc is a number which is the United States Air Quality Index reading or US AQI for short. This is calculated by taking readings of six of the most common pollutants present in the city air. They are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Not all cities have these actual stations and rely on data from overhead satellites instead. Bielsko-Biala is one of those cities that has no physical stations but the results are very much the same.

When this figure has been verified it can be used as a metric when making comparisons in air quality in various locations across the world. It is actively encouraged by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

There are two stations very close to the city and they can each be explored by selecting the appropriate disc which will open a new page with all the details about that particular area.

Referring back to the main city page, it will be seen in the coloured banner across the top of it that the air quality at that time was “Moderate” with a US AQI reading of 52. The yellow background of the banner also reflects this level. The asterisk to the right of the number shows that the figure was derived from satellite data and not from ground-level stations. The main pollutant was seen to be PM2.5 with a recorded level of 12.4 µg/m³ (microns per cubic metre). This figure exceeds the suggested target figure of 5 µg/m³ by two and a half times as recommended by the WHO.

Does the air pollution map for Bielsko-Biala contain any more information about air quality in that region?

There is much more fascinating information about air quality on the air pollution map for Bielsko-Biala and it is very easy to find. An icon will be seen at the top right of the opening page which will re-open the current page at maximum size so all information will be clearly seen.

Once viewed at maximum size, a list of four options will appear on the left-hand side of the screen. Each of these can be disabled to get a good idea of the effects they each have on the map.

The first option would reveal the sites of the ground-level air monitoring stations but the ones seen are not under the jurisdiction of the city, however, they can still be explored further by selecting the appropriate disc. This can be very useful when travelling to different areas of the city.

The next option shows the locations of any wildfires there are that might be burning out of control in the region. At the time of writing in April 2023, there were no fires detected in the area. If any are detected, then option four needs to be consulted because it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and will give a good indication of where the smoke may drift.

The third option changes the background colour of the map to give an up-to-date indication of the state of the air. When the quality is poor, the colours will be very dark which might make the map difficult to understand, in which case it can be disabled so that the map will revert to a more subtle colour palette.

There are more facts and figures about air pollution on the right-hand side of the screen. A table will be seen here which ranks the seven cities in the world with the highest levels of air pollution. There is also another section which reveals the rest of the participating world cities in descending order.

Is the source of the polluted air shown on the air quality map for Bielsko-Biala?

The air quality in Bielsko-Biała is often very poor due to PM10 and PM2.5 pollution. The main source of smog in the city is low emissions from single-family houses and local transportation modes. Pollution is also exacerbated by dense buildings, which hinder the natural flow of ventilation. However, the problem is also the "import" of smog from the nearby areas, as well as the Czech Republic due to the direction of the wind.

In the city, which is the main centre of the Bielski Industrial District, there are, among others, engineering, automotive, metallurgical, food and many other industries. These plants are also responsible for polluting the local natural environment.

What are PM2.5 and PM10 that are quoted on the air quality map for Bielsko-Biala?

PM10 is a mixture of particles suspended in the air, the diameter of which does not exceed 10 micrometres. It is harmful due to the content of elements such as benzopyrenes, furans and dioxins - in a word, carcinogenic heavy metals.

PM10 is particulate matter that primarily affects the respiratory system. It is responsible for coughing attacks, wheezing, and worsening of the condition of people with asthma or acute, violent bronchitis. Indirectly, PM10 also has a negative effect on the rest of the body, including increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Benzopyrene is also highly carcinogenic.

PM2.5 are atmospheric aerosols whose diameter is not larger than 2.5 micrometres. This type of particulate matter is considered the most dangerous for human health because, due to its small size, it enters the lungs and can travel as far as the alveoli where they can transfer into the bloodstream and freely travel around the body.