As of this year, particle dust pollution has exceeded the prescribed health levels almost 20 times in the Grensásvegur area, reports the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. According to the Reykjavik City Environmental Health and Protection Office 75% of air pollution is the result of traffic – 60% is asphalt chaff created when cars with studded tires drive the roads, 15% comes from the exhaust of automobiles.
News station NFS says that poor air quality has been measured in other parts of the city including near the Family and Pet Park in Laugardalur.
A director at the Environmental Health and Protection Office, Lúdvík Gústafsson, said that even though particle dust pollution is highest in areas with heavy traffic due to weather conditions it can be over health levels all over the city, as was the case these last few days, when weather is calm, dry and cold.
Ludvik also said that it was safe to say that particle dust pollution due to traffic was relatively higher in Iceland than in other countries. The highest measured dust pollution levels are about the same in Iceland as elsewhere since in other countries dust pollution from industry, heating and power generation add to the pollution from traffic.
Air quality is measured in the Grensásvegur area and is updated every 30 minutes on the Reykjavík City Web site.
