What is the air quality like in the new Borovaya, and is it safe for living?

Research in Nova Borovaya

The filming crew of realt.by, together with a group of seven independent experts, conducted special studies in the new residential area of Nova Borovaya. We carried out analyses of water quality and air quality, assessed the strength of the walls of new buildings, and examined the environmental situation. The results of our thorough study have already been compiled, and we are pleased to share them with you.

Project about the ecology of the area

In partnership with A-100 Development, we are launching a major project dedicated to the ecology of Novaya Borovaya. Over the next five weeks, we will be presenting extensive information about the neighborhood that developers usually avoid sharing. We will start with the key issue - the quality of air that residents of Novaya Borovaya breathe every day.

Participants of the study

To achieve the accuracy of our research, we invited participants from among the local residents. Our project included the well-known singer Anna Shalyutina and stand-up comedian Andrey Makaenok, who recently became homeowners in Novaya Borovaya and entrusted the choice to the company "A-100 Development."

The purpose of the research

Our goal is to find out what substances saturate the air that local residents and celebrities breathe every day. Is this area in a safe zone for living?"It is important to breathe clean air, whether we are out walking, by the water or in our own homes."— says Anna.“As a resident of Nova Borovaya, I want to be assured that there are no threats to my health, as clean air is essential for good well-being and a full rest. I am very interested in learning the results of our research, and what about you?”

The relevance of the issue

Why are we raising these topics? According to statistics from the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for over 4 million deaths each year. Poor air quality leads to an increase in cardiovascular, respiratory, and oncological diseases. According to a global study...“Ambient PM2.5 reduces global and regional life expectancy”Polluted air reduces the life expectancy of Belarusians by almost a year. This issue is relevant for all of us, and it needs to be discussed.

How can I check the air quality on my own?

How can you independently check the air quality in your home? We started by analyzing the air quality in Nova Borova, following the advice available online, as not everyone has access to specialized devices for detecting hazardous elements. To be honest, there aren't many options, and there is no complete confidence in the accuracy of the data obtained. Nevertheless, the experiment was conducted with the consideration of the checks:

• ventilation
• humidity level
• overall air quality

Using available methods, Anna Shalyutina carefully followed all the advice she found online. Each of you can also conduct simple experiments in your home. This will be the first step in determining the quality of the air you breathe in your living space.

Ventilation check

To check the ventilation system, you will need a simple piece of paper. It should be held about 5 centimeters away from the ventilation opening. Before starting the test, it is important to open all doors and windows, including the entrance. If the paper starts to be drawn towards the ventilation opening, this indicates that the ventilation is functioning normally. Remember that if the windows and doors are closed, the paper should not move towards the ventilation duct.

It is worth noting that using a lighter in this test is not recommended, as dangerous gases may accumulate in the ventilation shafts, leading to a risk of fire.

Humidity assessment

The next important aspect we will consider is the humidity level in the room. It should be noted that assessing it based solely on visual signs is quite difficult. One of the popular methods mentioned online is as follows:

• Take a glass of water and place it in the refrigerator for a few days to cool the water down to 3-5 degrees.
• Then move the glass to a room, away from sources of heat and cold.
• Watch the walls of the glass for ten minutes.

If the air in the room is dry, the walls of the glass will dry quickly. If it's humid, condensation will start to form, which will drip down in large droplets. At normal humidity, small droplets of water will remain on the walls.

Air quality in the room

Let's now talk about air quality — it's one of the simplest checks you can perform on your own regularly. The essence of the test is to observe what happens under the sunlight when a person walks by. If you notice a cloud of dust, it signals the need for a wet cleaning.

As for chemical substances and pollutants, such as those from vehicle exhaust, only a specialist who conducts a chemical analysis of the air in your home can determine their concentration levels and composition. Problems can only be noticed when the situation has become critical.

Consultation with specialists

At first glance, psychometric tests may show that everything is fine in the apartment. However, consulting a professional wouldn't hurt. A severe lack of quality air is noticeable in large cities, where the conditions for breathing sometimes leave much to be desired.

For example, I try to regularly ventilate the room, take care of the plants, and use humidifiers. These measures help improve the microclimate, but they may be insufficient if the air pollution level in your area is quite high, Anna shares her opinion.

Air quality in large cities

Is it possible to achieve good air quality in a big city? This question was answered by Mikhail Doroshevich, one of the founders of the airmq.by project and an independent analyst in the field of internet technologies, as well as the initiator of the minsksmartcity project. The airmq project was created to monitor the state of atmospheric air in the cities of Belarus.

This initiative helps residents become aware of the level of pollution and take active steps to improve the air quality in their lives.

Air quality monitoring using sensors

Specialists are actively using sensors to monitor the levels of toxic substances in the air around us. The information is updated every minute, allowing us to stay informed about the situation. Currently, such devices are installed in six cities in Belarus. The main goal of this project is to create an open network that will track air quality across the country.

New Borovaya: a unique residential complex

Novaya Borovaya is a unique residential complex that has become the first in the country to feature a vast green park covering an area equivalent to five football fields. Currently, the construction of the residential neighborhood "City Park" is underway, and the company "A-100 Development" has already begun the process of planting mature trees.

Traffic restrictions in the city center

The implementation of restrictions on car movement in the city center is a challenging and costly measure that requires substantial justification and a considerate approach for the residents of the capital. The street and road infrastructure system in Minsk is structured in such a way that such innovations can lead to a number of negative consequences, including:

• significant traffic jams on secondary roads;
• spontaneous parking in the courtyards of residential buildings.

It's unlikely that such changes will improve the air quality in the city.

Attention of developers to air quality

Andrey Makaenok emphasizes important aspects that developers need to pay attention to when constructing apartment buildings. Is it possible to achieve optimal results regarding air quality amid intensive development? Mikhail Doroshevich reports on the observed positive dynamics:

• Car-free courtyards are becoming a common practice in creating comfortable urban spaces.
• this ensures the safety of citizens;
• This significantly contributes to improving the quality of the atmosphere.

Selection of locations for future complexes

It is extremely important for every developer to carefully choose locations for future projects and analyze the master plans of the capital to identify existing or potential sources of harmful emissions. It is recommended to place residential complexes at a significant distance from such facilities. Additionally, the abundance of greenery in courtyards also positively impacts air quality.

In Novaya Borovaya, there are no issues with green spaces, and this project can serve as a great example of creating a living environment in terms of ecology and comfort. There are plenty of green areas, safe playgrounds, and bike paths — all of which significantly enhance the quality of life for residents.

Air quality monitoring

To comprehensively assess the air quality in Nova Borovaya, a special sensor was installed to collect data on pollution. The information obtained allowed us to determine how free the air in this area is from harmful, health-threatening particles.

An Airmq sensor, installed in the Cedar Quarter, was used as a tool for analyzing air quality in Nova Borova. It recorded the levels of particulate matter of various diameters (1, 2.5, and 10 microns), temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. The device transmitted the results to a cloud server every minute.

Over the course of the week, experts closely examined the situation in the region, and no alarming signals were detected. The sensor has now been dismantled.

Opportunities for residents

The interactive map, which can be used, is regularly updated and provides fresh information from the last 24 hours. Anyone interested can contact Airmq to install a similar device in their home. This will allow residents to monitor the air quality in their area, receive up-to-date data, and participate in improving the environmental quality around their living space.

Conclusions

This approach to creating a comfortable living environment is an important step in improving the lives and health of urban residents. The implementation of such projects is aimed not only at beautifying urban areas but also at positively impacting the ecological situation and the overall well-being of the population.

Conclusion

In conclusion of our research, we would like to summarize and emphasize how important it is to pay attention to the quality of the air we breathe in our daily lives. On one hand, the observations conducted by our filming team from realt.by and independent experts in Novaya Borovaya open our eyes to aspects that we often overlook. On the other hand, the results of our project about the air that every resident of this area breathes daily demonstrate the importance of conducting such experiments.

The relevance of the problem of air pollution

The problem of air pollution affects not only large cities but also new residential complexes like Novaya Borovaya. According to the World Health Organization, millions of people suffer from the consequences of pollution, making our project even more relevant.

Engaging residents in the research

In collaboration with well-known personalities, such as the singerAnna Shalyutinaand stand-up comedianAndrey MakaenokWe were able to more clearly demonstrate the importance of the issue and engage our neighbors in our research. Their personal experiences and feelings will serve as an excellent foundation for discussing the state of the environment in the residential area.

Everyone can make their contribution.

It is also important to note that each of us can contribute to improving air quality in our homes and outdoors by conducting simple experiments and following advice on checking ventilation and humidity.

Key findings from the study

• Answers to questions about whether Novaya Borovaya is safe for its residents can be reassuring.
• Only on the condition that we all actively monitor the environmental situation and take measures to improve it.

Future steps

Soon we intend to present the results of all our research, including information about other aspects of life in Nova Borovaya that require attention. I hope that our work will be useful and help people not only assess the current situation but also participate in its improvement.

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