The smoke problem returns like a boomerang every year. The scale of this is perfectly illustrated by the world ranking of cities with the most polluted air. However, there are cities that are effectively fighting smog. Replacing chimneys is only the first step.
The smell of smoke does not pollute the cities and villages of Poland yet, but it is already known that the upcoming heating season will be different in a number of polluted seasons. “Although there is less smoke, there is still a long way to clean the air,” says Patrick Bialas, an anti-flu activist and Katowice city councilor.
Alert Smog Poland has already published its ninth report covering the cities with the most polluted air in Poland. The list is based on the measurement data of the Environmental Protection Agency for 2023. Once again, in the prestigious ranking, Nova Ruda in Lower Silesia, Sucha Beskidzka in Lesser Poland and Nowy Targ had the worst results.
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– The rating should be as follows: none of the communes exceed the permissible limits of PM10 dust, and we have almost it today, but we still have records, at least on a European scale, of air pollution with carcinogenic benzopyrene – notes Patrick. Bialas.
Results of rankingpolskialarmsmogowy.pl
There are also positive data
If the view of Suča Beskidzka from above was so clear during the entire heating season, there would be no talk of excess. Unfortunately, 600 percent of the permitted rate is allowed in the city.
“Nova Ruda”, which is still the leader of the rating, has reduced the concentration of carcinogenic dust by four times. Large Silesian cities, such as Rybnik and Katowice, dropped from the top of the miserable ranking to 81st place. Residents can breathe a sigh of relief and admit that the difference can literally be felt.
– This is much better. I remember how it was 40-50 years ago or more, and now it's really good, – admits Mrs. Jadwiga, a resident of Piekari Slaski. – It is definitely better, I definitely feel it, – says Ms. Boguslava, a resident of Katowice.
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There are also examples where it is possible to win in the fight against smoke in cities for a long time. Rybnik is still not an oasis of clean air, but the number of days with too much toxic dust in the city has almost tripled. “There is still a long way to go to improve the air in Rybnik,” admits Adrian Strzelczyk from the town of Rybnik.
Adrian Strzelczyk notes that Rybnik improved air quality thanks to various types of subsidies for replacing heat sources. – They promoted this and held educational campaigns, and I think we should have started with this education, because the most important thing was to change the thinking of Rybnik residents that this is not coal, but other sources of heat. that can improve air quality, – says the official.
The inspiring effect of the five-year fight against smogTVN24
Replacing the stove pipes helped
The vast majority of Rybnik residents switched to gas heating or other alternative sources. Out of 14,000 boilers in the city, less than 5,000 need to be replaced. – This only shows that the replacement of smoking and the implementation of anti-smoke regulations are working, but we have two million cigarettes to replace in Poland, which shows that we have to continue this fight, – notes Patrick Bialas.
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Smog causes a number of diseases, including asthma, cancer, heart attack and stroke. According to the World Health Organization, 50,000 people died in Poland from breathing polluted air. That is why the national fight against smoke continues.
Since January of this year, smoking has been banned in half of the country. Szczecin pays special attention to this, checks the quality of industrial gas in the chimneys of residents and uses special anti-smoke drones.
Main photo source: TVN24