HSY monitors air quality in new locations in the Helsinki metropolitan area in 2026
HSY operates 11 air quality monitoring stations in the metropolitan area. Four of these stations will change location at the turn of the year. In 2026, the new station sites will be Herttoniemi (Helsinki), Tapiola (Espoo), and Ilola and Långmossebergen (Vantaa). The measurements reveal the impact of road traffic, wood burning, the airport, and the waste-to-energy plant on air quality.
New station locations: Herttoniemi, Tapiola, Ilola, and Långmossebergen
HSY’s seven permanent air quality stations remain in the same locations each year to monitor long-term trends. Four mobile stations allow measurements in different areas and are placed in various environments.
In 2026, the new locations will be Herttoniemi in Helsinki, Tapiola in Espoo, and Ilola and Långmossebergen in Vantaa. The sites were selected in cooperation with the municipalities. The results also reflect air quality in similar environments.
“The mobile stations in 2026 provide information on how road traffic, wood burning, the airport, and the waste-to-energy plant affect air quality in the metropolitan area,” says Hanna Manninen, Head of HSY’s Air Quality Unit.
Measurements in Helsinki and Espoo focus on traffic emissions and street dust
The stations in Herttoniemi and Tapiola are located along busy streets. The measurements show the concentrations people are exposed to in these environments.
“Traffic exhaust and street dust degrade air quality the most because they occur close to the breathing height. Air quality limit values are tightening, and especially the new limits for street dust pose challenges and require more effective dust control,” Manninen explains.
In Vantaa, the impact of wood burning, traffic, the airport and the waste-to-energy plant is assessed
Wood burning produces harmful fine particles and PAH compounds that increase cancer risk. It worsens air quality most in densely populated detached house areas, especially on calm, frosty evenings. Measurements in Ilola help assess air quality in similar areas.
“In addition to wood burning, Ilola measurements provide information on the airport’s and traffic’s impact on air quality,” Manninen says.
At Långmossebergen, HSY measures the impact of Vantaa Energy’s waste-to-energy plant operations on air quality. Air quality has also been measured near the plant in 2015 and 2023.
HSY is responsible for monitoring air quality in the metropolitan area and the rest of Uusimaa. Current air quality information is available at hsy.fi/airquality.
Air quality monitoring sites in the Helsinki metropolitan area in 2026
More information:
- Air quality stations in the metropolitan area
- Current air quality: hsy.fi/airquality