Georgian environmental agency: most air pollutants within normal range in cities

A recent study by the National Environmental Agency (NEA) shows that most air pollutants are within the normal range in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi.

NEA of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia conducts continuous monitoring of atmospheric air quality using automated measurement stations.

The most recent tests measured the concentration of eight pollutants in the atmosphere in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi. The NEA found the presence of all measured substances to be within normal levels, except for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and solid particle (PM10) concentrations.

Concretely, the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide observed on Tsereteli Avenue in Tbilisi were found to be 1.4 times higher than the annual average. On Abuseridze Street in Batumi, the NO2 was 1.5 times higher than the annual average. 

Concurrently, the solid particle (PM10) concentration was observed to be 1.4 times higher than the annual average on in Tbilisi,1.1 times the annual average in Kutaisi, and 1.2 times the annual average in Batumi.

Air quality monitoring is a priority for the NEA, and it is carried out continuously. An online air quality information portal is currently being developed where the public will be able to get daily real-time information about the air quality.

Air quality is a continual subject of concern for the residents of Georgia, especially in the cities. The World Health Organization's 2018 report ranked Georgia 70th in the number of deaths caused by air pollution – the worst in Europe.