Spring street dust weakens air quality – how to avoid health hazards
Itchy throat, stinging eyes and a cough… In the spring, poor air quality is seen and felt. Finely ground grit sand poses a significant health risk in cities. However, its effects can also be evaded.
In Finland, the air we breathe is mostly healthy and safe. However, due to the snowy winters in Finland, grit sand must be spread on the streets to make them less slippery. As the snow melts, this finely ground grit sand dries up and rises into the air as dust, causing respiratory symptoms for many people.
The timing and intensity of the spring street dust season varies from year to year depending on weather conditions and the efficiency of street cleaning. If the spring weather is dry and calm, air quality may deteriorate very badly, especially near roads. Young children and persons with respiratory and heart diseases are particularly susceptible to the health hazards caused by air pollutants.
Avoid dusty areas and reduce strain
Niko Torvela, Environmental Inspector, helps protect clean and healthy breathing air in Espoo. Torvela advises everyone to avoid busy roads during the worst street dust season. As an avid cyclist, Torvela is familiar with unpleasant street dust.
“When cycling, I always try to choose a route that is as far away from major roads as possible. If I have to drive on a busy road, I always cycle upwind of the road. The air is cleaner there,” says Torvela.
According to Torvela, even a few metres can have an effect on the amount of fine particulate matter. “I always walk and cycle as far away from the road as possible. Even two metres can improve air quality.”
A scarf in front of your mouth and nose can also filter out the largest particles. When moving in a dusty area, it is worth dropping the pace. This reduces the strain and we breathe more lightly, meaning that less air and fine particulate matter is transported to our lungs.
Worst health effects caused by the smallest particles
Poor air quality is not always visible to the naked eye, yet the smallest particles are the most dangerous to health. In Europe, hundreds of thousands of premature deaths per year are estimated to be associated with fine particulate matter.
“Small particles are lighter than large ones, so they also drift further away from the emission source,” says Torvela. This means that fine particulate matter is also transported to forests and parks. Torvela advises anyone with asthma or heart disease to avoid outdoor activities when the air quality is particularly poor.
HSY produces information on air quality in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Up-to-date information on air quality is available, for example, on subway screens. You can also find detailed maps on HSY’s Air Quality Now(external link, opens in a new window) page. What is the air quality like near your home?