Moscow - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
The air quality is okay. It seems fairly comparable to the U.S. People may have seasonal pollen allergens. - Dec 2023
I didn't notice any air quality issues I would let others know about before traveling. We used a humidifier throughout the winter, which was many months. - Mar 2019
Decent. No particular concerns. - Nov 2018
It is good. - Sep 2016
Not great. Better outside of the city than in it. Spring time brings horrible pollen that causes many to suffer. - May 2016
Moderate - not ideal, but still far better than Beijing or Delhi, for instance. - Sep 2015
Moderate - Jun 2015
Unhealthy, but somehow you get used to it. I wouldn't recommend going to Russia for anyone with severe allergies and/or asthma. - Oct 2014
Moderate pollution. - Feb 2014
Moderate - at times it can be pretty bad because of some of the old cars on the road, but it's mostly okay. It can be very dry in the winter, so pack your humidifier. - Nov 2013
Seems ok, I don't particularly notice any problems. - Jul 2013
I think moderate to good, depending on where you live. I haven't noticed any particularly nasty air quality, so it's probably ok. - Jul 2013
Awful. The air is usually a challenge year-round. - Jan 2013
Typically, pretty good. But there are peat bog fires that smolder and can flare up so summer may be hit or miss. One summer it could be as bad as days in Cairo or Beijing and the next summer it would be beautiful. - Mar 2012
Supposedly bad, but it seems ok most of the time. Last summer, there were forest/peat bog fires and the air got unbreathable. You couldn't see across the street, it was so bad. The US Embassy allowed family members and employees to go to back to the US until it improved. Hopefully, we won't have a repeat this summer. - May 2011
Fair to poor. I have lived in worse places. - Jan 2011
Unhealthy. Moscow has more cars than the city can possibly handle (even with a world-class public transportation system). Russian concern for the environment is also low compared to European (or even American) standards. - Jul 2010
Moderate; too many vehicles and lots of exhaust. Allergy sufferers have a hard time. - May 2010
Moderate to unhealthy. During the season when I could open my windows without freezing, there was always a grey film on the window sills at the end of the day. People smoke EVERYWHERE! Even in the baggage claim of the Sheremetyevo airport. A lot of cars don't have good pollution control either. Very dirty. - May 2010
Its OK, although in the winter grit spread on roads and sidewalks to provide traction can stick to one's shoes and car, coating them. Car exhaust can be bad in traffic. - Feb 2010
about what you'd expect in a city of 15 million people and millions of cars on the roads - smog and vehicle exhaust. - Jan 2010
