Air pollution decreases in Georgia
All the air monitoring stations record a decreased volume of air pollutants. Nitrogen dioxide is down in particular – a pollutant caused by vehicle fuels. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Air pollution has decreased in Georgia, reports Head of the Air Department of the National Environment Agency Noe Megrelishvili.
Since March 15, air pollutants have not exceeded acceptable levels.
Eight stations in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Rustavi are monitoring air quality.
All the air monitoring stations record a decreased volume of air pollutants,” said Megrelishvili, noting nitrogen dioxide is down in particular – a pollutant caused by vehicle fuels.
However, Megrelishvili said that the share of particle pollution (small particles of dust and soot) in the air is still high. He noted that it is caused by construction and industrial sectors as these sectors have not stopped working despite the coronavirus outbreak.
Traffic in Georgia has decreased due to the restrictions the government put in place to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Mini-buses are not serving passengers neither in Tbilisi, nor between cities. Meanwhile, flights have been suspended.
Also, many people are working remotely as the populace has been urged to stay home.
A new, fifth air quality monitoring station has been installed on Agmashenebeli Avenue, on Ilia Square, in Tbilisi that will provide information on atmospheric air quality 24 hours a day.
Vehicle exhaust is the main cause of air pollution in Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi, says the report of the parliamentary committee on environmental protection and natural resources.
Georgia’s National Agency of Environment has reported based on the latest data of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the air pollution in the country equals the average air pollution levels of Eastern European countries.
The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has welcomed the World Health Organisation’s new report in which Georgia’s results in terms of healthcare and air pollution level have shown an improvement. The improved indicators are the result of joint efforts by Georgia and WHO during last two years, the NCDC said.
Air pollution has decreased in the capital city of Tbilisi as well as in the whole country, announces the National Environment Agency of Georgia. The agency reported that the content of nitrogen dioxide in the air quality was particularly reduced on the streets where traffic was intense, including the avenues of Tsereteli and Kazbegi.
Imports of diesel in Georgia will be limited to Euro 5-standard fuel starting this year, in a move aiming to reduce environmental pollution, Nino Tandilashvili, the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, told Business Media Georgia on Sunday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday announced Government plans to introduce the Euro 5 emissions standard for cars in a bid to reduce air pollution across the country.