Athens Air Quality Journal

A journal whose aim is to picture the daily Air Quality (AQ) in Athens. This post aims at documenting how the atmosphere looks and feels like in terms of Air Pollution, day after day, in our capital. Photographs mostly taken from Filoppapou Hill show the visibility over the city, which is a way of visuallyContinue reading “Athens Air Quality Journal”

The health price of Air Pollution in Greece: in 2019 as many people as the whole city of Nafpaktos died because of the toxic air we must breathe in the country

More than 13,300 people (a town the size of Nafpaktos) died as a result of long-term exposure to air pollution in Greece in 2019, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said in its annual briefing on the health impacts of the problem in Europe last Monday. See an article by Giorgos Lialios on the Greek newspaperContinue reading “The health price of Air Pollution in Greece: in 2019 as many people as the whole city of Nafpaktos died because of the toxic air we must breathe in the country”

Agis Emmanouil’s 2421km Climate Run – Air Quality Full Results

Now that Agis has finally reached his destination at the COP26 Conference in Glasgow, we can get a full look at the Air Quality he found all along his incredible 2421KM Climate Run. Air Pollution is nowadays recognized as one of the most serious threats to people’s and the environment’s health. Nine people in tenContinue reading “Agis Emmanouil’s 2421km Climate Run – Air Quality Full Results”

Air Quality insights along Agis Emmanouil’s incredible 2421KM Climate Run

Agis Emmanouil is performing the incredible 2421km Climate Run from Athens to Glasgow in order to raise awareness on the climate crisis. Is there a better and most sustainable way than bringing the message on foot, for 2421 Km? Yet, Agis is running on roads that pass from some of the most polluted areas ofContinue reading “Air Quality insights along Agis Emmanouil’s incredible 2421KM Climate Run”

Daily Air Quality measurements along Agis Emmanouil’s 2421km Athens-Glasgow Climate Run. Part 2: ITALY

After a break of a couple of days needed for the transfer from Greece to Italy, Agis Emmanouil’s second part of the 2421ClimateRun started in Venice on August 19th. He ran all the way through the wide Padana Plain from Venezia to Torino, from where he then began going uphill towards Bardonecchia, the last villageContinue reading “Daily Air Quality measurements along Agis Emmanouil’s 2421km Athens-Glasgow Climate Run. Part 2: ITALY”

Interview to Prof D. Sarigiannis about the dangers of Air Pollution, especially from wood smoke, and about its alarming increase in Greece

The huge raise in the electricity (50%), natural gas (82%) and heating oil (30%) costs starting this month is big news in Greece these days. How will Greek citizens be able to afford these extra costs, when these commodities are already among the most expensive in the EU? They simply won’t, and they will turnContinue reading “Interview to Prof D. Sarigiannis about the dangers of Air Pollution, especially from wood smoke, and about its alarming increase in Greece”

Over 50% of the cars in Greece are old (and big polluters), and a staggering 20% of them circulates free without MOT certification!

Today I brought my car to take a MOT (Maintenance of Traffic) certificate. Greek law requires all vehicles to take a MOT certificate every two years from the moment your vehicle gets 4 years old. Needless to say, the car was in perfect condition since I always service it properly and take good care ofContinue reading “Over 50% of the cars in Greece are old (and big polluters), and a staggering 20% of them circulates free without MOT certification!”

Daily Air Quality measurements along Agis Emmanouil’s 2421km Athens-Glasgow Climate Run. Part 1: GREECE

GREECE: Day 1-Day 5, Athens-Patras, 216,9km, 35:19 hours The first part of Agis Emmanouil’s adventure from Athens to Glasgow has come to an end. Agis started in Athens on August 11th and arrived in Patras on the 15th. See my previous post for a description of this unique endeavour and the reasons for it. AgisContinue reading “Daily Air Quality measurements along Agis Emmanouil’s 2421km Athens-Glasgow Climate Run. Part 1: GREECE”

A very rough estimate of how many deaths could be attributed to Wood Smoke in Athens every year

This new study was published today. It shows the effects of wood heaters on people’s mortality in Armidale, an Australian city of 25.000 people in New South Whales. The study’s result is that every year 14 people die in Armidale because of the polluted air they must breathe because of wood heaters. Now, Armidale isContinue reading “A very rough estimate of how many deaths could be attributed to Wood Smoke in Athens every year”

Athens forests are burning… and thick smoke is covering the whole city

Good morning in hell… The huge wildfire just north of Athens that started yesterday is covering the whole city with smoke and ashes this morning. And outside it is 45 degrees… And for the first time, at last, a governmental warning has been issued to ask citizens to stay hermetically closed in their houses inContinue reading “Athens forests are burning… and thick smoke is covering the whole city”