Think before you travel there: European cities with the most polluted air

These are the European cities with the most polluted air. The results of the study may surprise you.

There are many factors in mind when planning a trip and finding the right destination, but pollution is often unfairly overlooked. Of course, for a short trip, the air quality may seem a bit unimportant, since you are only leaving for a few days, but even then, particles in the air can harm your health. Which ones are European cities with the most polluted air?

As recent research has shown, even short exposures to polluted air can have a detrimental effect on your health – especially your lungs and heart.

A new study StressFreeCarRental.com, carried out by researchers, measured air pollution in Europe, and the result, which European cities turned out to be the worst, may surprise you. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines, an analysis was carried out to detect the levels of fine particulate matter in popular European cities. Fine particles are the pollutants that pose the greatest risk to our health. The highest level considered safe is a long-term average that does not exceed 5 μg/m3 (that is, micrograms per cubic meter).

European cities with the most polluted air

The first place on the list exceeded the mentioned "safe" average by almost four times. The highest level in Milan was 19.7 μg/m3, making the capital of Lombardy the most polluted European city. In fact, the top five cities on the list all have long-term averages that are at least twice the WHO recommendations. At 13.6 μg/m3, Athens is the second most polluted European city, followed by Prague, Barcelona and Berlin, which have levels of around 12 μg/m3.

You may be surprised to learn that Amsterdam – a city we associate with cycling – is ranked number ten, while London (note the Big Smoke) is not on the list. It is the latter that is expected to expand its low-emission zone to the entire city, in a conscious effort to reduce pollution.