Air quality monitoring

Imatra and Lappeenranta form a common measurement network for air quality monitoring in South Karelia, which has 10 continuous measurement stations, 2 weather stations and 6 precipitation collection points. Continuous measurements enable almost real-time information on the air quality situation in the entire measurement network area. For more than 20 years, Imatra's environmental department has been centrally responsible for the maintenance of the equipment belonging to the measurement network and the reporting of results.

The air pollutants to be measured are:

• Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS)
• sulfur dioxide (SO2)
• nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NO)
• respirable particles (PM10)
• small particles (PM2,5)
• fallout

You can read about the health effects of pollutants on the pages maintained by the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

Health effects of air quality

The measurement points are primarily located near industrial plants and in population and traffic centers. Imatra has four continuous measuring points: Rautionkylä, Mansikkala, Teppanala and Pelkola. There are six continuous measurement points in Lappeenranta: Lauritsala, Lappeenranta center, Tirilä, Ihalainen, Joutseno center and Pulp school.

Air quality index

The air quality situation is reported using a special air quality index. In the index, air quality is divided into five categories: good, satisfactory, avoidable, bad and very bad. The current air quality situation can be checked on the measurement network's own air quality pages and on the pages maintained by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, where the air quality measurement results are updated automatically every hour. The Air Quality Index bulletin is also published in Uutisvuoksi on Tuesdays and Sundays.

Air quality in South Karelia

Air quality in Finland

Guidelines and limit values ​​for air quality

The State Council has given guideline values ​​for air quality in its decree 480/96 and limit values ​​in its decision 79/2017. In areas where people live and stay, these values ​​must not be exceeded.

Air quality regulation

Quality system description Imatra 2022.pdf