Prague air
In the long term, Prague suffers from air pollution. It is the second most polluted city, after Ostrava. However, compared to Ostrava, in Prague it is the car traffic that is nearly an exclusive source of airborne pollution (and, of course, of other pollutants as well).
Therefore, it is necessary to restrict car traffic in the capital not only due to the traffic overload of roads and the risk of accidents, but also because of its serious impact on human health.
From the beginning, Pražské Matky have been notifying the health consequences of air pollution caused by the traffic and of the situation where permitted hygienic limits are exceeded without penalty. The first action of the association in winter 1988 – 89 began just as protests against the critical values of pollutants in Prague air and against the totally unsuitable smog decree.
In recent times, we try to keep teaching the public about the connections between car traffic and the quality of air through further activities and projects.
In 2008, the project called I know What I Breathe was completed at Sázavská Elementary School in Prague 2; the project was implemented by Pražské Matky in cooperation with the Health Institute in Kolín and with the support of the City of Prague. The aim of the project was to acquaint pupils both theoretically and in practice with the issue of polluted air in Prague, particularly in connection to traffic behavior.
Our other activities include notifying responsible officials of shortcomings in the informing of school, health facilities and the broad public about air pollution in emergency situations or open support and mediation of arguments (statistics related to dustiness in particular) for narrowing the North-South arterial road (Severojižní magistrála). We have also commented on the amendment of the Air Protection Act.
Therefore, it is necessary to restrict car traffic in the capital not only due to the traffic overload of roads and the risk of accidents, but also because of its serious impact on human health.
From the beginning, Pražské Matky have been notifying the health consequences of air pollution caused by the traffic and of the situation where permitted hygienic limits are exceeded without penalty. The first action of the association in winter 1988 – 89 began just as protests against the critical values of pollutants in Prague air and against the totally unsuitable smog decree.
In recent times, we try to keep teaching the public about the connections between car traffic and the quality of air through further activities and projects.
In 2008, the project called I know What I Breathe was completed at Sázavská Elementary School in Prague 2; the project was implemented by Pražské Matky in cooperation with the Health Institute in Kolín and with the support of the City of Prague. The aim of the project was to acquaint pupils both theoretically and in practice with the issue of polluted air in Prague, particularly in connection to traffic behavior.
Our other activities include notifying responsible officials of shortcomings in the informing of school, health facilities and the broad public about air pollution in emergency situations or open support and mediation of arguments (statistics related to dustiness in particular) for narrowing the North-South arterial road (Severojižní magistrála). We have also commented on the amendment of the Air Protection Act.