The smog from wildfires raging outside Moscow is expected to start leaving the Russian capital on Sunday evening and is unlikely to return early next week, an expert from the State Environmental Protection Organization Mosekomonitoring said.
"From the second half of the day, we are observing a drop in the level of air pollution. The reduction [in air pollution] continues and no increases in carbon monoxide and suspended particle concentrations above permissible levels have been registered. The concentrations will continue to decrease by the evening and the return of smoke on Monday is unlikely," Alexei Popikov said.
The scientist said the eastern winds that had blown smoke into Moscow from the neighboring regions would change for the southwestern winds and have a positive effect on the environmental situation in the Russian capital.
The expert said the largest level of Moscow air pollution was registered in the Russian capital from 11 to 12 hours on Sunday afternoon, with the suspended particle concentrations 40% above the norm and carbon monoxide concentrations 30% above the norm.
Areas affected by wildfires in Russia shrank by 3,000 hectares over the past 24 hours, the Emergency Situations Ministry said on Sunday.
The ministry said the territory engulfed by wildfires was 53,000 hectares at present.
Since mid-June, the Moscow Region has been in the grips of an abnormal heat wave sparking peat bog and forest fires. During two weeks the capital was blanketed in acrid dense smog.
The worst smoky days were August 6 and 7, when the carbon monoxide concentration in the air exceeded the maximum permissible level 6 to 7 times over.
MOSCOW, August 15 (RIA Novosti)
