City Warns Of High Air Pollution Today

The air quality in some parts of Reykjavík could go past the “health limit” for what is safe to breathe, due to a combination of human-caused and environmental factors.

Vísir reports that the air quality in the Grensásvegur area of east Reykjavík went up to 45 microgrammes per cubic metre. The health limit for a 24-hour period is 50 microgrammes per cubic metre, and it is expected that the air quality will worsen.

The reasons behind the pollution centre mostly around car traffic, and officials warn that those living near major intersections will experience worse air quality than those living in other areas. This, combined with still winds, dry roads, and little precipitation help make the air quality much worse.

You can follow what the air quality in your part of Reykjavík is like at this site – a green light indicating good air quality, with gradually reddening colours indicating decreasing quality.

While there is no especially dangerous threat pending due to the situation, those with respiratory problems should probably avoid areas where the air quality is low.