During the past few days, the small loose dust particle (PM10) pollution in the air has risen throughout the country. Levels of pollution over the alerting level have been measured in several settlements. In Nyíregyháza, the smog warning was raised to alert level, while in Budapest, Debrecen, Miskolc and Pécs, the level was declared high enough to require the informing of the public.

According to meteorological forecasts, an anticyclone will continue to affect the weather over the coming days, which will not help the rapid improvement of air quality.

Although air quality is expected to improve in several areas as a result of rising southerly and south-easterly winds arriving on Thursday, there will be no appreciable change in calm, windless areas. The skies are expected to be cloudy over a larger area of the country on Sunday and Monday, as a result of which the concentration of air pollutants may fall.

A smog state occurs when the concentration of pollutant materials – in this case loose dust (PM10) – in the air rises. If this level exceeds 75 micrograms/cubic metre on two consecutive days – and according to meteorological forecasts no significant change is expected in the coming days –, then the local government in question must announce a state of public information.

If the concentration of small loose dust particles exceeds 100 micorgrams/cubic metre on two consecutive days, and no change is expected according to meteorological forecasts, then pollution has reached the alert level.

A high level of air pollutants is an increased health risk for children, old people and the sick, especially those with chronic respiratory ailments.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)