Environmental situation in Moscow seriously worsens

The environmental situation worsened once again because of wildfire smoke that muffled the city. Carbon dioxide concentration in the air exceeds the norms threefold, the concentration of even more hazardous small contaminating particles is twice above the norm, Popikov told Ekho Moskvy radio Friday.

When the air pollution reaches such a hazardous level the population should wear multiple gauze bandage masks for two-three hours at least until the concentration of hazardous fumes subsides, the expert warned.

The situation might become even worse in the next few hours, he said. At present, the concentration of hazardous substances in the air is several times above the norm; the level of carbon dioxide exceeds the norm 3. 6 times, Popikov told Itar-Tass. For the time being the smog has not yet beat the previous record set in Moscow on August 4, when the city was shrouded in heavy smog, but in a few hours the previous "record" set in the city might be beaten, the expert warned. The expert emphasized a threat to human health posed by such ecological situation and warned the city population to be careful and come out into the street wearing multiple gauze bandage masks.

The worst environmental situation was reported in the east, southeast and in the south of the city. Despite a slight drizzle in some of these areas early Friday the situation there has not improved, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com