Air quality
The Helsinki metropolitan area enjoys good air quality compared with the metropolises of the rest of Europe. Air quality in the area is usually good or satisfactory.
Nevertheless, from time to time air pollution can reach dangerous levels in Helsinki. Air quality in the city can be weakened by exhaust gases from traffic, street dust, small particles carried from other areas by the wind, ozone and smoke. The most hazardous air impurities for health are particles, ozone and nitrogen dioxide.
High concentrations of small particles in the metropolitan air are almost always caused by impurities carried by the wind. Risen ozone concentrations are caused by ozone carried from elsewhere in Europe.
Air Quality Plan for Helsinki has been drawn up to cover the years 2017–2024. Citizens and other interest groups were involved in the preparation of the programme. Read more: Air protection in Helsinki
Air quality monitoring
Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY) monitors air quality in the Helsinki metropolitan area with continuous measurements at monitoring stations and releases air quality information to the public.
Real-time information on air quality is available on the HSY website, on Twitter on weekday mornings, on air quality displays, on radio and TV, and in newspapers.