Sensors for measuring air quality will be installed on the main streets of the 5 sectors of Chisinau. The equipment will monitor the air pollution level non-stop, and the data will be provided in real time on a web portal.

The smart equipment will be installed in the coming months by Orange Moldova within a grant programme launched by “Moldova Sustainable Green Cities” Project, implemented by UNDP and funded by the Global Environment Facility.

“The equipment has already been purchased by us. The sensors will monitor several air pollution indicators according to ISO 37120: 2018 Sustainable cities and communities – indicators for city services and quality of life.  The sensors will be connected to Internet, so the collected data will be transmitted in real time to a dashboard. Information on the level of pollution and its evolution over time will be updated every minute,” said Andrei Preasca, B2B Sales and Customer Care Director, Orange Moldova.

The equipment will measure the following parameters: ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (according to EU requirements for calculation of the air quality index), noise level, temperature, pressure and air humidity. The particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) are fine particles generated by industry, traffic and home heating.

The exact locations are to be selected in partnership with the State Hydrometeorological Service. This will be the first real-time measurement and visual network of air quality in Chisinau.

“Polluted air is a determining factor in generating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, multiple air pollutants cause global warming, for example, the carbon produced by diesel engines, from open burning of waste etc. It is important to know the level of pollutants in the air in order to develop air pollution prevention programs and launch actions to reduce air pollution. Real-time data accessibility will also be useful for people who want to avoid certain high-pollution zones or intervals,” noted Inga Podoroghin, Programme Specialist, UNDP Moldova.

In Moldova, air quality is monitored by the Atmospheric Air Quality Laboratory, which has 8 stationary monitoring stations in its network (6 in Chisinau and 2 in Balti). The data on air pollution levels are taken 3 times a day, serving on the development of daily and monthly reports.

According to the World Health Organization, about 91% of the planet's inhabitants breathe polluted air, causing 7 million deaths per year.

“Moldova Sustainable Green Cities” Project, with five-year duration: 2018-2022, has a total budget of $2.72 million, out of which $2.64 million are provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and $80,000 – co-funded by UNDP.