The street dust season has started – occasional high levels of respirable particles
Update 23.3.2026
Particulate concentrations are occasionally high, especially in the vicinity of highways in the areas of Siilinjärvi kirkonkylkä and Vuorela. Respirable particles can cause irritation symptoms such as rhinitis, coughing, throat irritation, itching and stinging of the eyes even for healthy people. People with chronic respiratory and heart diseases, such as asthmatics and people with coronary or pulmonary artery disease, are at risk of serious effects. In these people, street dust can aggravate underlying diseases(Street Dust – THL). The daily variation in concentrations is large, so monitor the air quality situation in the Siilinjärvi app and in more detail on the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s page Air quality now – Finnish Meteorological Institute. It is advisable to move exercise and outdoor activities away from major roads.
The municipality has started to bind dust on main streets with salt or formate solution spraying. Sanding will start this week. Unfortunately, the dusting of the motorway, trunk roads and the Viitose is the main contributor to the street dust situation. We have been in contact with the Livability Center about removing the sand from the curbs and binding the dust. Citizens can provide feedback on road maintenance through the Feedback Channel and the Road User Line.
Road and street surfaces have dried out in sunny weather and traffic releases dust that has accumulated on roads and streets over the winter. Street dust is mainly coarse dust that is raised by traffic on dry street and road surfaces and yards. Typically, about 10% of street dust contains more harmful fine particles that can enter deep into the human respiratory tract, causing more serious health problems and symptoms. High concentrations of particulate matter are measured during the street dust season, especially in the immediate vicinity of traffic routes.
Prevailing dust concentrations can currently cause harm to people with serious respiratory and circulatory diseases and other at-risk groups, such as the elderly and young children. People who are affected should avoid outdoor activities requiring intense physical effort, especially in the immediate vicinity of traffic routes and during the busiest periods of the year. Protection against street dust can be provided, for example with a respirator of class FFP2.
The real-time air quality measurement results for Siilinjärvi and Kuopio are available on the website https://aqverkkokuopio.net and on the national air quality website https://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmanlaatu. The real-time air quality situation in Siilinjärvi is also available on the Siilinjärvi app homepage.
For further information, please contact Virve Suoaro, Environmental Protection Inspector, tel. 044 740 1442 and Matti Nousiainen, Head of Environmental Protection, tel. 044 740 1422