Study shows serious airborne dust problem in Helsinki in recent months

EU limits on airborne particles exceeded 35 times

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The City of Helsinki was not able to bring the amount of airborne particles in the city's air on Mannerheimintie down to acceptable levels this spring, in spite of efforts by the Public Works Department to prevent dust from accumulating on the major thoroughfare.
      Although the streets were regularly cleaned and washed with water and salt, maximum levels for dust in the air were exceeded 35 times, which is the upper limit under EU directives.
      On Hämeentie, another main artery in the centre of the city, the dust content exceeded recommendations 31 times.
     
Under EU rules, airborne dust must not exceed 50 microgrammes per cubic metre of air. The highest level recorded in Helsinki was 127 microgrammes.
      "We need to come up with tougher ways to keep the levels from exceeding the limits in the future", says environmental inspector Jari Viinanen of the Helsinki City Environment Centre.
      "We need more efficient street cleaning in the spring, and in the winter, snow has to be removed quickly from the pavement. We must not leave black heaps of ice which spread particles when they melt", Viinanen continues.
      There are also reports that some of the grit spread on city streets during the winter has been of poor quality, contributing to the problem of blowing dust in the spring.
      During the winter the Environment Centre submitted a report to the EU on the number of times the airborne particle limit was exceeded on Helsinki's Runeberginkatu. The Commission has not yet said if the matter has already been discussed, or what the consequences might be. Some member states have reportedly received reprimands over the high levels of contaminants in the air.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Poor air quality caused by cold weather, street dust, and exhaust fumes troubles Helsinki residents (17.3.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat