Air contamination remains a superior occupation successful Greeceand the latest planetary information amusement that the situation successful a fig of areas leaves nary crushed for calm.
According to the platform’s 8th yearly study IQAir for 2025, which analyzed information from 9,446 cities successful 143 countries, lone 14% of the world’s cities conscionable the recommendations WHO by PM2.5 particle level. Greece is not included successful this list.
In Europe, 23 countries recorded an summation successful PM2.5 concentrations, and Greece was among them, with an summation of much than 30%. This is owed not lone to interior reasons, but besides to outer factors, such arsenic smoke from fires successful North America and the transfer of African dust.
Microparticles that termination unnoticed
PM2.5 – These are particles with a diameter of little than 2.5 micrometers, astir 30 times smaller than a quality hair. Due to their size, they penetrate heavy into the lungs and tin participate the bloodstream.
The main sources are substance combustion, industry, fires and dust. Long-term vulnerability is associated with cardiovascular diseases, strokes and chronic lung diseases.
According to EUair contamination remains the starring biology origin of premature mortality, causing astir 300,000 deaths annually. It is besides considered the 2nd origin of lung crab aft smoking.
Athens comes first
According to the study, Athens center ranks archetypal successful terms of contamination level with indicator 14.7 µg/m³ PM2.5 per year. This is simply a noticeable summation from 11 µg/m³ successful 2024.
For comparison, the harmless level according to WHO recommendations is 5 µg/m³that is, the indicators successful the halfway of the superior are astir three times higher than the norm.
Next connected the database are:
- Licovrisi – 13.8 µg/m³
- Chalandri and Peristeri – 12.8 µg/m³ each
- Aharnes – 12.6 µg/m³
- Petrupoli and Piraeus – 12.4 µg/m³ each
- Ano Liosia – 12.1 µg/m³
- Paleo Faliro – 10.8 µg/m³
- Egaleo – 10.7 µg/m³
Even areas with comparatively amended indicators, such arsenic Holargos, Koridallos, Vironas and Vouliagmeni, stay supra the recommended values.
It gets worse successful winter
Air contamination successful Athens increases during the winter. Reasons – heating use, wood burning and temperature inversionswhich trap pollutants successful the atmosphere.
Fireplaces and wood stoves, which grew successful popularity during the economical crisis, still stay a important source of emissions.
Additional influences include:
- industry
- sea transport done the larboard of Piraeus
- old αυτοκίνητο park
Greece remains 1 of the European countries with the oldest vehicle fleetand the stock of electrical vehicles does not yet compensate for the situation.
A occupation that requires action
On days with mediocre aerial prime Athens is among the 15 astir polluted large cities successful the world. This is nary longer conscionable a statistic, but a nonstop menace to nationalist health.
Most astatine hazard children, aged radical and patients with chronic diseases.
Experts enactment that the solutions person been known for a agelong time:
- fleet renewal
- development of nationalist transport
- reducing the use of wood heating
- industrial emissions control
The occupation is not a deficiency of knowledge, but a deficiency of systemic action. Because the aerial residents respire continues to deteriorate faster than decisions tin beryllium made.
Greek (GR) · 
English (US) ·