Kyiv 2nd worst in world’s air quality amid sudden pollution surge.

Kyiv authorities warned about sharp and “temporary deterioration” of air quality in Kyiv on Sept. 20 due to the accumulation of harmful substances.
The likely cause is fires in Kyiv Oblast that released large amounts of dust particles in the air, the environmental department of the Kyiv city military administration said.
Authorities warned on Sept. 16 that the air quality in the capital may worsen due to fires in the Vyshorod district of Kyiv Oblast. Large-scale fires were also recorded elsewhere in Ukraine recently amid dry weather and – in some areas – constant Russian attacks.
The IQAir air quality index places Kyiv as the second most polluted city in the world as of 11 a.m., with only Cairo ranked higher. Earlier in the day, Kyiv was ranked the worst city in the world before a sudden deterioration of the pollution levels in Cario.
Kyiv has a rating of 181 on the 0-500 scale, which is classified as “unhealthy” and calls for reduced outdoor exertion by residents of the affected area. The pollution level is currently 19.7 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.
The Kyiv city authorities called upon the residents to close windows, avoid staying outdoors, drink lots of water, and turn on air purifiers.
The pollutants recorded in the air included nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone.
Kyiv has been ranked among the 30 cities with the cleanest air both in 2022 and 2023, positioned close to capitals like Madrid or Tokyo.