Air quality in Olomouc

Is Olomouc a very polluted city currently?

Olomouc is also locally known as Holomóc or Olomóc and is a city found towards the east of the Czech Republic on the banks of the Morava River. According to a census which was conducted in 2019, it had an estimated population of approximately 100,000 inhabitants, but when the larger urban zone is included, the figure rises to 384,000 people. It is currently ranked as the sixth largest city in the Czech Republic.

During the third quarter of 2021, Olomouc was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 80. This United States Air Quality Index figure is calculated by collating the recorded levels of six of the most prolific air pollutants. These can include, both diameters of PM (PM10, PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide. If figures are not available for all six, a level can still be calculated by using what information there is. It can then be used as a metric when comparing one city with another, anywhere in the world. In Olomouc, there were three pollutants measured which were PM2.5 - 26 µg/m³, PM10 - 20 µg/m³ and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) - 11.1 µg/m³. ³. The level of PM2.5 can be seen to be two and a half times higher than the target figure of 10 µg/m³, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is considered to be an acceptable level although no amount of air pollution can be considered as being safe.

Although this level of pollution is not extremely high, the given advice would be to remain indoors with the windows and doors firmly closed so as to prevent the ingress of more polluted air. Those of a sensitive nature should also remain indoors until the air quality improves, but if venturing outside is unavoidable, then a good quality face mask should be worn at all times. There is a downloadable app from AirVisual which is available for all operating systems which keeps you updated as to the air quality in real-time.

Is the air quality in Olomouc the same throughout the year?

Air quality can be influenced by many variables therefore it should come as no surprise that the quality can change very quickly.

Looking back at the figures released by IQAir .com for 2020, the month that brought the cleanest air was June when the recorded figure was 9.7 µg/m³ which is less than the suggested WHO target figure of 10 µg/m³. The next cleanest months were February, May and July with figures of 10.5, 10.3 and 10.8 µg/m³, respectively. This put it into the “Good” category. To be classed as this, the readings have to be between 10 and 12 µg/m³. The remaining nine months of the year saw the air quality classed as “Moderate” with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. The worst month being January with a 29.0 µg/m³ reading.

Figures regarding air quality have been kept since 2017 when the annual average figure was 20.4 µg/m³. And Olomouc has seen a steady improvement, year on year. 2018 returned a figure of 19.0 µg/m³, followed by 16.1 µg/m³ in 2019 and 15.8 µg/m³ in 2020.

Where does the polluted air come from in Olomouc?

In connection with smog, there is mostly talk of the Moravian-Silesian region, but Olomouc also has long-term deteriorating air quality. In the winter, smog situations are announced in the regional town for several days.

Contrary to popular belief, diesel vehicles are not the only emitters of fine particles leaving the exhaust; new direct injection gasoline vehicles also contribute to these emissions.

In fact, it is all vehicles, regardless of their propulsion system, which generate such particles; quite simply because a good part of it comes from abrasion of tyres and brakes. These represent almost half of the total emissions linked to road transport in urban areas.

Combustion of fuel produces more particulates in the exhaust in diesel engines than in gasoline engines. The older generation diesel vehicles thus emitted large quantities.

But the introduction, from 2005, of particulate filter technology, a device generalised in 2009, has drastically reduced these emissions: diesel vehicles equipped with a filter now emit in the order of a few mg/km of particles whereas they previously emitted around 50 mg/km.

Can anything be done to improve the air quality in Olomouc?

The city of Olomouc is cooperating on a research project with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI). Using highly functional and sensitive measuring technology, experts will now obtain accurate data. They will then analyse what sources of pollution affect the air in Olomouc and what measures can be taken to improve the situation. Particles captured on the filters will be examined by experts using an electron microscope. In this way, data on the type and origin of these particles can be obtained. The results will then help to create a comprehensive model of the origin of air pollution.

New European Union legislation mandates heating plants and power plants to further reduce emissions of gases into the atmosphere. These are mainly nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and solid pollutants.

In the heat sources in Olomouc, the company will modify the existing dedusting systems of coal boilers K3 and K5.

Both should be equipped with flue gas denitrification technology and further de-sulphurised by modern de-sulphurisation methods.

What are the detrimental effects on human health from air pollution in Olomouc?

Motor vehicle exhaust gases are a serious environmental and health problem in many places in the Czech Republic, the European Union and around the world. By its nature, it is a complex mixture of chemicals, which depends on the composition of the fuel, the type and functional condition of the engine and the possible use of abatement equipment (filter, catalytic converter, etc.). Pollutants and their derivatives can cause adverse health effects due to their interaction with molecules key to the biochemical or physiological processes of the human body.

The effect of emissions may vary for different population groups. Children and the elderly in particular can be particularly sensitive to harmful effects. People with asthma or other respiratory or heart diseases may experience worsening of their symptoms when exposed to pollutants. The results of air quality monitoring in the Czech Republic confirm the continuing importance of transport as the main cause of urban air pollution by dust particles (PM10, PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).