HSY measures air quality in the Helsinki metropolitan area at new locations to investigate the effects of wood burning, traffic, and the port

HSY has 11 air quality monitoring stations in the metropolitan area. Of these, the location of four stations changes every year or two. In 2025, the mobile stations are located on Kustaa Vaasa Road and in Katajanokka in Helsinki, in Lintuvaara in Espoo, and along Ring III in Viinikkala in Vantaa. Additionally, one mobile station is in Porvoo.
Measurements provide information about different types of urban environments
HSY is responsible for monitoring air quality in the Helsinki metropolitan area and elsewhere in Uusimaa. Air quality is measured with both permanent and mobile monitoring stations.
- The mobile air quality monitoring stations for 2025 provide information on how wood burning, heavy traffic, and port areas affect air quality in the metropolitan area, says Hanna Manninen, head of HSY’s air quality unit.
In 2025, the mobile air quality monitoring stations are located at the following locations:
- Kustaa Vaasa Road, Helsinki
- Katajanokka, Helsinki
- Lintuvaara, Espoo
- Ring III, Viinikkala, Vantaa
- Rihkamatori, Porvoo.
The air quality monitoring stations have several devices that measure different air pollutants.
Smoke from wood burning deteriorates air quality in residential areas
The monitoring station in Lintuvaara provides information on how wood burning affects air quality in residential areas. The measurement results from Lintuvaara describe the level of air quality to which people are exposed when living in densely built residential areas. HSY monitors the effects of wood burning on air quality in Lintuvaara for the second consecutive year. Wood burning produces harmful fine particles and PAH compounds that increase the risk of cancer.
- The largest emissions from wood burning are concentrated in densely built residential areas. In new houses, wood use and emissions are usually lower than in old houses. It is also essential how correctly the wood is burned, says Manninen.
Weather conditions also affect the harmful effects of wood burning smoke. If the weather is windy, air pollutants from wood burning are diluted more effectively than in calm weather.
Traffic and street dust deteriorate air quality the most
Exhaust gases and street dust from traffic deteriorate air quality in the metropolitan area the most because they are released close to the breathing height. In 2025, the effects of traffic on air quality are investigated using mobile monitoring stations in different environments. Measurements at Ring III show how heavy traffic affects air quality along the main road. Measurements at Kustaa Vaasa Road investigate the air quality to which people are exposed when moving about in a busy street environment.
Measurements at the port area in Katajanokka will investigate the port’s impact on air quality in the surrounding area. The measured concentrations are mainly affected by emissions from ships, port operations, vehicles visiting the terminal, and other traffic.
One mobile station is located in Porvoo
In Porvoo city center, air quality is monitored for the year 2025. The measurements investigate air quality in busy areas of Uusimaa and monitor the development of air quality in Uusimaa. Previously, measurements have been made at the same location in 2004, 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2020.
HSY’s permanent air quality monitoring stations are in the same location every year and are used to monitor long-term air quality trends. The mobile stations allow air quality to be measured in various areas and are placed in different types of environments. The locations are chosen in collaboration with the municipalities. The measurement results from these stations also reflect air quality in other similar environments.
In addition to the monitoring stations, air quality is measured with smaller individual devices at several locations in the metropolitan area and elsewhere in Uusimaa. The current air quality situation can be found on HSY’s website at hsy.fi/en/airquality.
More information:
- Air quality monitoring sites in the metropolitan area
- Air quality in the metropolitan area: hsy.fi/en/airquality
- Air quality elsewhere in Uusimaa