Air pollution testing network to be established in Moravia-Silesia region

Health authorities in the eastern city of Ostrava have begun testing a sophisticated system aimed at mapping air pollution in the region. The system includes 36 mobile measuring facilities which will supplement the current three sited across the region. They will eventually be able to give a daily update of the situation regarding smog and, for the first time, the chemical composition of the air. The system costing around 30 million crowns will be tested this year and should be fully operational in 2011. The Ostrava region has recently suffered from smog caused in part by local heavy industry. The situation has been so bad that alerts have caused the shutdown of some factories.

Author: Chris Johnstone