Black clouds of smoke after Russian attacks: what threat they pose to people and who is most at risk
Kyiv • UNN
Fires following the attacks contaminate the air with toxins that spread for dozens of kilometers. Experts advise closing windows and avoiding outdoor walks for children.
After massive shelling, danger can remain even after the explosions have subsided. Fires release substances hazardous to health into the air. Pavlo Tkachenko, co-founder of the public organization Save Dnipro and developer of the SaveEcoBot system, told UNN why you should not open windows immediately after an attack, how to protect yourself from polluted air, and who is most at risk of suffering from its effects.
After massive shelling, the danger to people does not end with the conclusion of the air raid alert. Fires that occur after strikes can significantly worsen air quality at a considerable distance from the epicenter of the event. Environmentalists emphasize that special attention should be paid to one's own safety in the first hours after an ignition.
Even if it is a short-term fire, a huge amount of pollutants from the combustion of fuel and lubricants, plastic, or other goods enters the air. It spreads around and can travel dozens of kilometers. Sometimes the air nearby can be relatively clean because the emission plume rises upwards. And then it covers neighboring districts,
According to the specialist, the composition of the pollution depends on what exactly is burning. During fires, microparticles of soot, dust, various gases, and other dangerous compounds enter the air. Some of these substances eventually settle on the soil and can enter water bodies.
First and foremost are microparticles, which are the most numerous. Then various gases, nitrogen dioxides, sulfur, and other substances. If fuel and lubricants are burning, heavy metals and other dangerous compounds enter the air. After that, they can change as a result of chemical reactions and settle in a different form,
The expert advises closely monitoring reports of fires and wind direction. If smoke is moving toward residential areas, outdoor exposure should be minimized. This especially applies to children and people who exercise outdoors.
It is best not to go outside until the fire is localized. You should not walk with children or exercise, because during physical activity a person breathes more frequently and more polluted air enters the body. After the fire is localized, time must be allowed for the pollution to disperse,
Indoors, simple safety rules should also be followed. The specialist recommends keeping windows closed, using air purifiers, and avoiding the use of exhaust fans if there is heavy smoke outside. It is also important to drink water regularly and monitor air quality indicators through special monitoring services.
If there is very heavy smoke outside, it is better to close the windows and even hang damp cloth over them. If there is an air purifier, it should be turned on. It is very important to drink plenty of water because it helps the body cleanse itself. Additionally, you need to monitor air quality indicators and make decisions depending on the situation,
According to the expert, rescuers working directly at the fire sites suffer the most from polluted air, while among the civilian population, the risk groups include children, the elderly, and citizens with chronic diseases. They are the most sensitive to harmful impurities in the atmosphere.
Those who consume the most oxygen suffer. These are children, whose bodies are constantly growing. These are people who exercise outdoors, as well as the elderly, whose bodies are already weakened. If there are chronic diseases, the risks also increase,