Ukraine has approved a new regulation that governs how the public is informed about air quality. This document specifies which pollutants are to be considered and the levels needed to calculate the air quality index.

The order (No. 590, dated March 24, 2025) has been registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, as reported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

"This is an important step towards ensuring public access to information about air quality in a user-friendly format," the agency stated.

The document establishes:

• a list of pollutants for determining the quality index;
• the range of levels for these substances to assess the quality index;
• color-coded and textual indicators of the index;
• recommendations for the public.

The air quality index for any pollutant can be classified as:

• "Very Poor";
• "Poor";
• "Unsatisfactory";
• "Satisfactory";
• "Acceptable";
• "Good".

"The concentration ranges for the quality index have been determined based on regulatory values for each pollutant, taking into account WHO recommendations and European air quality standards."

The regulation has been developed in accordance with the European air quality index, which is published on the official website of the European Environmental Agency, the Ministry of Environment reported.

It is worth noting that throughout February, Kyiv experienced systematic air quality deterioration, prompting residents to stay indoors and close their windows.

Subsequently, it was revealed that the accumulation of pollutants in the air was exacerbated by weather conditions, particularly low wind speeds and a lack of precipitation.