Regulation declared in north Moravia over heavy smog

Ostrava, North Moravia, Feb 17 (CTK) - Meteorologists have declared regulation over heavy smog in the Ostrava-Karvina agglomeration and in the Frydek-Mistek area in north Moravia Sunday, according to information from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMU).

If the regulation signal is declared, the companies with valid regulatory rules must observe the given environmental measures.

The regulation took effect at 02:15 Sunday.

The inhabitants of North Moravia and Silesia have suffered from increased concentrations of dust aerosols (PM10) since Wednesday. The smog situation has been in the whole region since Friday.

The permitted limit of the average daily concentrations of dust aerosols is 50 micrograms per cubic metre.

The regulation is declared if the average daily concentrations of dust aerosols exceeds 150 micrograms per cubic metre at least at a half of monitoring stations in the locality for three days in a row, that is for at least 49 hours.

The concentrations were at least doubled at all 15 monitoring stations in the whole region this morning. They have decreased mostly during the day.

Apart from North Moravia, meteorologists have declared the smog situation in two regional capitals in East Bohemia, Pardubice and Hradec Kralove, where the pollution exceeded the limits twice.

Under a new Czech law, air-polluting companies are bound to regulate production after three days of a serious smog situation.

Smog may worsen conditions of ill people. This is why people who suffer from chronic respiratory troubles, heart diseases, the elderly and small children should not stay outdoors long.

Besides, meteorologists have called on drivers not to use cars if possible.

The air in the Moravian-Silesian Region has been the worst in the Czech Republic for years. The situation is critical mainly in winter. Local inhabitants are exposed to a higher concentration of pollutants that affect their health.

Moreover, smog in the locality is partially caused by pollutants from the neighbouring Poland.