Air quality in Bielsko-Biala

What is the current level of air pollution in Bielsko-Biała now?

Bielsko-Biała is a city in southern Poland. It is an automotive, transport and tourism hub of the Bielsko Industrial Region, situated in the Beskid mountain region. The city used to comprise of two separate towns on either side of the Biala River. Bielsko on the west bank and Biala on the east one. According to a census conducted in 2019, Bielsko-Biała had an estimated urban population of approximately 325,000 people. Add the metropolitan area and the figure increases to 530,000 inhabitants.

Towards the middle of 2020, Bielsko-Biała was experiencing a period of “Good” quality air with a US AQI figure of just 2. 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 there is. For Bielsko-Biała the only pollutant recorded was sulphur dioxide (SO₂) which was 2.9 µg/m³. With a level as low as this, doors and windows can be safely opened to allow the fresh clean air to enter the rooms. All types of outdoor activities can be enjoyed without fear. Looking ahead to the forecast, “Moderate” quality air is predicted from tomorrow so it will be a good idea to go out today instead of tomorrow. The table at the top of this page should help you decide.

Does the level of air pollution in Bielsko-Biała vary throughout the year?

Air quality can be affected by many variables and, as such, can change remarkably quickly.

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 from February until the end of November when the air quality was classified as being “Moderate” with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. The remaining two months of the year, January and December, returned figures from the “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” category with figures of 44.1 µg/m³ and 52.9 µg/m³, respectively. Records were first kept in 2019 when the average annual reading was 27 µg/m³ followed by a slight improvement in 2020 when the figure was 24.7 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 Bielsko-Biała come from?

Smog is nothing but air pollution. It is created as a result of our activities and unfavourable weather phenomena, especially fog. Smog is a type of cloud that hovers over cities or towns, especially in autumn and winter. Due to its chemical composition and place of occurrence, two types can be distinguished.

Unfortunately, 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 standards.

For example, sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is produced mainly in the process of burning solid fuels, usually containing admixtures of sulphur and its compounds. It has a toxic effect, most often attacks the respiratory tract and vocal cords. There is also ozone in smog, which in turn is formed as a result of photochemical reactions in air polluted with nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide - come from anthropogenic sources, mainly road transport.

The formation of this substance is favoured by high temperature, high sun exposure and air humidity. At higher dust concentrations, ozone causes eye irritation, mainly conjunctivitis, changes in vision parameters, an increased frequency of asthma attacks and an increase in the incidence of skin cancer or changes in lung function (especially in children). Carbon monoxide (CO), in turn, is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon. It is highly toxic because it causes severe poisoning.

Another source of pollution are exhaust fumes from large factories and vehicles. According to the Ministry of Environment, heating is responsible for the emission of low air quality and harmful substances into the atmosphere. In Poland, homes are heated by burning coal or other solid fuel in boilers, as a result of which emissions are produced and high concentrations of harmful substances in the air. As ISECS points out, individual heating in residential buildings is responsible for 40 per cent of PM10 dust emissions. Where transport generates 5.5 per cent and industry 16 per cent.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Bielsko-Biała?

The level of toxic substances in the low emission phenomenon increases in winter and in windless weather. This is particularly acute in mountain valleys, of which Bielsko-Biała, located at the foot of the Beskidy Mountains, has many, and in which polluted air is often stagnant in winter.

The aim of the program is to improve air quality in the city by leading to the widest possible replacement of the existing old, low-efficiency and non-ecological coal boilers with ecological heat sources.

In order to encourage residents to replace their heat sources, the program uses a financial incentive in the form of co-financing the replacement of the heat source. Residents themselves choose a new heating source for their home from a list of devices tested in terms of ecological parameters.

What are the effects of air pollution on public health?

If you experience conjunctival itching, throat irritation, tracheitis, chronic fatigue, difficulty breathing, incessant coughing, trouble concentrating, headaches - you may be a victim of air pollution.

In Poland, air pollution is responsible for approx. 45,000 premature deaths annually, and 97 per cent of Poles breathe air recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as harmful to health. Additionally, six of the ten most polluted cities in Europe are located in Poland.