The air quality in Finnish Lapland is getting better. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
It is the Finnish Meteorological Institute that has published data from its measuring station in Pallas-Sodankylä Observatory in Lapland, showing lower concentrations for many pollutants hazardous to ecosystems and humans.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2), heavy metals and some polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) transported from the Kola Peninsula are decreasing over the latest years. Pollutants like nitrogen compounds, volatile hydrocarbons and ozone, however remains more or less unchanged, according to the study.
Less of the sulpur dioxide pollution from Nikel can be measured in Lapland. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The smelter in Nikel on Russia’s Kola Peninsula is the single-largest polluter of sulphur dioxide in the Barents Region. Also, the nickel and cobber smelters in Monchegorsk are serious contributors to long-transported air pollution.
Read also: Nikel eco-modernization will cost €120 million
In general, the air pollution in Lapland are very low, typically about one tenth of the background concentrations in Southern Finland.
