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“Dirty Cloud in Ukraine: Where did it come from and how to protect yourself?

A polluted cloud is approaching Ukraine again. In the coming days, the air quality in the country will deteriorate significantly.

This is reported by the Ventusky portal.

According to the meteorological resource, the deterioration has already begun. It is noted that a cloud of polluted air will cover Ukraine on February 13, Thursday. The worst situation will be in Zhytomyr, where the pollution level will reach 317 units (very unhealthy air).

The air will also be polluted in Kyiv region with an indicator of 83 units (unhealthy air).

How to protect your health – Komersant ukrainskyi analyzed in detail.

Yulia Markhel, eco-activist and leader of the Let’s do it Ukraine eco-movement, exclusively for KU told what a “dirty cloud” is and why we should monitor air quality. According to her, this atmospheric phenomenon occurs due to the accumulation of dust and pollutants in the air during an anticyclone.

“This is not quite the correct use of the term ‘dirty cloud’, because it is not a visible mass of dust, but stagnant conditions that contribute to the accumulation of pollutants in the air,” the activist explained.

Causes of the “dirty cloud” and its consequences

“Deteriorating air quality is a problem that can and should be controlled. It is important to monitor pollution indicators, use protective equipment, and reduce our own environmental footprint,” said Yulia Markhel.

She emphasized that each of us can contribute to improving the environment by choosing a greener lifestyle and supporting initiatives to reduce pollution.

The main causes of such phenomena are:

• atmospheric anticyclone, which leads to poor air circulation;
• emissions from the heating season, industrial enterprises and transportation;
• natural factors, including the transfer of dust from the southern regions.

Which regions will be affected by pollution?

According to forecasts, the greatest deterioration in air quality is expected on February 13, 2025 in some regions of Ukraine. The worst situation will be in Zhytomyr, where the pollution level may reach 317 units (a very unhealthy level). In Kyiv region and the Lozova area of Kharkiv region, pollution is also expected to increase, although the levels will be lower: 83 units (unhealthy air) and 91 units, respectively.

“At the moment, the pollution levels in Ukraine are within normal limits, and there is no need to panic ahead of time. However, it is important to be prepared for possible changes,” adds Marhel.

How to protect yourself from the “dirty cloud”?

This phenomenon poses the greatest health risk to people with chronic respiratory diseases, children, the elderly, pregnant women, and workers outdoors.

To minimize the impact of pollution, it is important to

• avoid prolonged exposure to the outdoors during peak pollution periods;
• close windows at home and use humidifiers;
• avoid physical activity outdoors whenever possible;
• wear respirator masks that filter out fine particles.

How long will the “dirty cloud” last?

The anticyclone that is currently dominating Ukraine may maintain such weather conditions until Friday. However, a change in weather conditions, such as increased wind speeds or rain, could lead to a faster improvement.

Such atmospheric phenomena can recur several times a year, especially in the winter and spring, when the air has low circulation and pollutant emissions from heating and transportation are added.

What forecasters say

Natalia Ptukha, a forecaster at the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, told UNIAN that there is currently no official information about the arrival of the “dirty cloud”. In anticyclone conditions, when winds are weak or absent, this creates conditions for the accumulation of pollutants in the surface air layer from various emission sources.

“If the air flows are more intense, they contribute to a faster dispersion of pollutants. At the same time, these substances remain the same as always, and their amount does not change,” added Ptukha.

In general, an anticyclone can indeed lead to the accumulation of pollutants in the lower atmosphere, but when asked about the possibility of a “dirty cloud,” the forecaster clarified:

“We cannot confirm such data.”

Thus, the predicted deterioration of air quality in Ukraine due to atmospheric conditions, in particular due to the anticyclone, can be a serious health hazard, especially for people with chronic respiratory diseases, children and the elderly. It is important to pay attention to the level of air pollution by wearing protective equipment and choosing greener lifestyles. While not all regions are in the critical pollution zone, it is necessary to be prepared for changes and closely monitor the situation.