Historic smog alert issued

An official smog alert and health warning advising people to stay indoors was issued for the first time in the history of the Czech Republic Jan. 27.

The alert, issued by the Hydrometeorological Institute, covered Ostrava as well as the Liberec, Ústí and Central Bohemia regions. Smog has been a problem before, but this is the first time the institute acted under powers it was granted in November 2009 by the Air Protection Act to close or reduce polluting sites as large parts of Moravia and Bohemia were shrouded in smog, a combination of smoke and fog.

Power and production plants were ordered to scale back operations as levels of poisonous particles in the air in parts of north Moravia near industrial zones reached concentration levels of 800 micrograms per cubic meter per hour. The safety level is 50, according to the institute's Josef Keder.

No smog alert was issued for Prague, but "that does not mean the capital is in the clear," Jan Macoun, the institute's deputy director, told The Prague Post.

"A smog alert is a warning for people to keep their windows shut, and not to go out unless necessary," Macoun said. "Physical activity should be limited. Schoolchildren should not play outside, and people with respiratory problems should stay home."

Wintry conditions, especially freezing fog, exacerbate the problem, and drivers could also face a ban in a smog-hit area, Keder said. "Drivers are part of the problem, and local authorities could take measures, even stopping traffic."  

Though conditions have improved, it is only a question of time before heavy smog hits parts of the country again, and it seems to be getting worse, Keder said.

"Smog has been experienced from time to time in the past, but, over the past few years, the situation has grown worse. It is, of course, very dangerous for people's health, because particles can penetrate into the respiratory tract and into the lungs. Sometimes carcinogenic items or microorganisms that can cause disease can bind to the particles. That is the real threat to people."

Prague escaped the worst, Macoun said, because the primary heating fuel is gas and not wood or coal, which contribute heavily to smog.

Also there were fewer cars on the road in Prague because of the snow. But this could change very quickly, he said.

- Klára Jiřičná contributed to this report.

Tom Clifford can be reached at
tclifford@praguepost.com