Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY announced on Monday that street dust is affecting air quality in different parts of the capital and its surroundings.
HSY noted that street dust rises into the air with traffic and wind as snow melts and roads dry. There are higher levels of dust in the air on sunny, dry days.
Street dust is a particular spring nuisance for asthmatics and people with heart conditions, but it can cause irritation for anyone, including children and healthy adults.
The airborne dust often exacerbates the symptoms of heart and respiratory diseases. Street dust also causes irritation, leading to coughs and itchy eyes and throats in healthy people.
Studded tyres and winter sanding
Helsinki Region Environmental Services monitors air quality and street dust levels across the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. In recent days, the sun has melted much of the region's snow cover, and as roadways dry out, dust is kicked up into the air by traffic and wind.
"According to our measurements, the street dust season has started in the metropolitan area. Street dust is in the air today, especially along busy main roads and streets. Last week we had dusty days and poor air quality," Hanna Manninen, head of HSY's air quality unit, explained in a Monday press release.
Dust levels in the coming days and weeks will vary depending on the weather. On sunny and dry days, there will be plenty of street dust in the air. Meltwater and rain, on the other hand, will moisten road surfaces, reducing dust.
Springtime dust is most prevalent in heavily trafficked areas, and is mainly made up of finely ground asphalt and grit. Studded tyres in particular wear down asphalt, producing the fine particles picked up by the winds. This winter, streets and walkways were also heavily sanded to combat slippery conditions, adding to the problem.
The severity of the spring street dust season is difficult to predict. Weather conditions have a major influence on the amount of dust that can be released into the air.
Street cleaning can start in earnest only once sub-zero nighttime temperatures come to an end.
Helsinki Region Environmental Services offers an English-language guide in pdf format to dealing with symptoms caused by street dust.
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