ZAGREB, January 16, 2020 – The Dr. Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute for Public Health issued a health alert on Thursday due to increased levels of particulate matter in the air in Zagreb, saying that the short-term air pollution, usual for this time of the year, did not present a major threat to human health.
It said in a statement that increased levels of particulate matter were usual in the winter months because of coal-powered household and industrial heating systems being used at this time of the year, compounded by road transport and weather.
The Institute advised vulnerable people, such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, persons with chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, persons with an impaired immune response and smokers to adjust their daily routines and avoid long and intensive physical activities outdoors, especially near roads.
People were also advised to use public transport and avoid or reduce the use of solid fuels for heating.
Data from air quality monitoring stations, posted on the website of the Environment and Nature Agency, showed that the quality of air in the entire city was poor on Thursday. The situation was worst in the south-eastern district of Dugave where the concentration of PM10 particles in the air was 112.7 μg/m3 at 11.30 am, while the 24-hour limit value is 50 μg/m3.
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