Permissible air contaminant levels exceeded in Kyiv - mayor
KYIV. June 9 (Interfax) - Atmospheric air monitoring in Kyiv indicates that the concentration of substances formed in combustion have exceeded the permissible level, said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
"I have ordered the follow measures to prevent further air contamination in Kyiv: wastes will not be burnt, food will not be cooked in the open air in unauthorized places, truck traffic will be limited, and the city streets, traffic ways, courtyards and green belts will be washed and watered on a daily basis," Klitschko said on his website on Tuesday.
Air will be monitored in eight reference points throughout the duration of the firefighting efforts to identify the concentration of substances normally monitored in the city and also combustion products, such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and dust.
"The concentration of sulphur dioxide in the reference points on June 9 exceeded the permissible level 2.5-6.7 times. Pollutants gather in the lower layers of the atmospheric air due to the weather. The concentration of sulphur dioxide is unacceptable and is rated as moderately hazardous and hazardous," according to Vice Mayor Mykhailo Radutskiy.
The city authorities will monitor the air on a daily basis. If the situation deteriorates more stringent measures will be taken.
The city administration said Klitschko had instructed the Kyivavtodor utilities corporation to put street washer vehicles on Kyiv streets to remove pollutants that might have settled on them during a fire at an oil depot near the city.
Kyivavtodor said shortly thereafter that it had some of its washers were on the streets already and that altogether 53 vehicles would be cleaning the roads on Tuesday.
It said the vehicles would keep working round the clock for as long as necessary.
