Air quality issues in therapeutically exposed locations

The insufficient density of the air quality monitoring network is a long-standing issue that, at least in the Czech Republic, has yet to be satisfactorily resolved. In practice, greater emphasis is placed on monitoring emissions rather than immission (ambient emissions). Air quality measurements are, in most cases, conducted at the sources of polluting gases (CO, CO₂, SO₂, NOₓ). Monitoring stations are often located in areas with heavy industry. However, more detailed information on air quality is missing in places where air interacts directly with the respiratory system, such as urban agglomerations of various sizes. An illustrative example is that the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) does not operate monitoring stations in all regional cities. This results in a critical deficiency of objective information on air pollution across the entire territory.

Insufficient information on long-term pollutant concentrations in the air is also a significant issue in locations where climatic conditions have, or could have, therapeutic benefits—specifically, in spa locations. Some areas with favorable climatic conditions (e.g., those with clinically proven benefits for cardiac patients) are certified as climatic spas under the Spa Act. However, stringent air quality standards are also required for all other spa locations. The absence of direct monitoring of tropospheric air pollution in the centres of most spa locations poses a challenge because pollution levels are estimated using mathematical models based on data collected from nearby or more distant surroundings.

To address this issue, a mobile air quality station will be procured as part of the SRC (Spa Research Centre) transformation project. The station will be capable of analyzing concentrations of various pollutants, including CO, SO₂, NOₓ, suspended particles (PM2.5, PM10), selected volatile organic compounds (e.g., benzene as a representative of VOC), selected heavy metals (e.g., Be, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb, As, Zn), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Moreover, the station will be equipped to transmit the collected data online in real time. The project aims to establish baseline air quality values for the most significant spa locations. These values will serve as the foundation for defining the parameters of the so-called "spa therapeutic landscape." This definition will facilitate the specification of air quality limits necessary to ensure the sustainable preservation of the favorable climate in spa locations and its associated therapeutic effects.

Initial results from measurements in the spa towns of Karlovy Vary and Lázně Kynžvart indicate that air quality in the centers of spa towns is significantly better than in areas without spa functions. This improvement can be attributed to factors such as restrictions on passenger and freight transport and other anthropogenic activities implemented to maintain the protective regime for spa clients. These findings align with observations that locations with high levels of vehicular traffic experience increased concentrations of pollutants such as NOₓ.

The primary goal of the ongoing project is to enhance detailed air quality monitoring and facilitate the establishment of air quality limits for locations where the therapeutic use of favorable climatic conditions supports the treatment of the human body.

Research within the SRC project is funded by JTF CZ 10.01.01/00/22_001/0000261.