Air quality

   What are the impacts of poor air quality

Major impact of the intensive air pollution in the city is increased level of respiratory and other illnesses . Most risky is situation during summer time, when the temperature' inversions are very low and as a result, harmful substances cannot disperse in the atmosphere. Hot, sunny days and light winds  (mostly in July-August), together with high traffic emissions, promotes photochemical activities in the lower part of Tbilisi (central districts). Thus, there are frequent cases of photochemical smog. These cause a reduction in visibility, eye irritation for humans and serious plant damage. Hence, children and the elderly are encouraged to leave the city during the summer.

Weather and pollution conditions (high PM and SO₂ concentrations) are "benefitial" for winter smog, as well. It mostly occures in January, when upper inversion is low and winds are very light.

Data for emission of fine suspended particles such as PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 unfortunately is not available on city's air monitoring network . These small particles (10 µm and less in diameter) reach respiratory bronchioles while normal nasal breathing and may cause very dramatic impact on human health. Therefore, air quality in Tbilisi is considered to be more harmful than it may appear by the official data available from the Hydromet (institution, responsible for the pollution monitoring in Georgia).

	Chapter Navigation
	Introduction State Pressure Impact
	Action
	- What you can do!
	Indicators
	- CEROI core set   - In this report
	More In...
	- Air quality monitoring - Orographic scheme - Pollution dynamics - Pollution mapping