The most polluted and the cleanest areas of Greece in terms of air quality are published by the report of Swiss company IQAir that monitored the quality throughout 2024. The results are surprising!
The report by IQAir, which monitors global air quality, specifically examined fine particles, or PM2.5, one of the smallest but most dangerous pollutants we find in the air.
PM2.5 comes mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, fires and dust clouds.
It is such a tiny particle that it can escape the body’s defenses and reach the lungs and, by extension, the blood.
The particles cause irritation and inflammation and have been linked to respiratory problems and chronic kidney disease.
The 10 most polluted areas in Greece, according to the IQAir report:
- Ioannina (Epirus)
- Plagiari (Municipality of Thermi)
- Ellispontos (Prefecture of Kozani)
- Aliartos (Prefecture of Boeotia)
- Elefsina (Prefecture of Attica)
- Vasilika (Prefecture of Thessaloniki)
- Trilofos (Prefecture of Thessaloniki)
- Orestiada (Prefecture of Evros)
- Thessaloniki
- Lykovrysi (Attica)
The 10 cities with the cleanest air:
- Nea Raidestos (Municipality of Thermi)
- Dyo Choria (Tinos)
- Vouliagmeni (Attica)
- Rio (Patras)
- Agios Nikolaos (Crete)
- Sitia (Crete)
- Agios Pavlos (Municipality of Neapolis-Sykeon)
- Ilioupoli (Attica)
- Chaidari (Attica)
- Heraklion (Crete)
Check Live and Real-Time Monitor here on IQAir
Here is IQAir’s annual, interactive air pollution map of Europe by published by the Guardian. You can zoom in to see air quality levels in small towns and villages well as cities. Nowhere in Greece (and almost nowhere in the whole of Europe) has safe air quality within WHO guidelines.
We do have published the link to IQAir