The north-western Polish city of Szczecin plans to deploy a drone to check levels of air pollution.

City authorities want the eye in the sky, which will be equipped with special sensors, to be up and flying in November.

Szczecin mayor Piotr Krzystek told reporters: “This is very important because it will help … analyse smoke coming out of chimneys, and I think that it will also help us to intervene more efficiently.”

The southern Polish city of Katowice earlier this year started testing a drone to pinpoint offenders who break anti-smog rules.

Tackling air pollution

According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), out of the 50 European cities most affected by smog, 33 are in Poland. The WHO estimates that around 50,000 Poles die every year due to illness caused by air pollution.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki declared last December that tackling air pollution would be one of his government’s priorities.

Morawiecki also announced that the 33 most affected cities would each gain their own dedicated programme aimed at reducing the impact of smog.

(pk/gs)

Source: PAP