Meghan Hodges
Paris, France's capital, is the second most polluted city in the country, according to data from 2019. The city's air quality has been a concern since the 18th century, when the Industrial Revolution was taking place. While Paris's air quality has improved in recent years, it still falls into the 'moderately polluted' bracket, with certain groups at risk on days when pollution levels are higher. Paris's air pollution levels are considered unhealthy, and the city has seen pollution spikes in recent years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air Quality Index (AQI) | Moderate |
| Comparison with other cities | Ranked 1274th in 2019 among most polluted cities |
| Main causes of air pollution | Transportation, industry, and heating |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) output | Transportation, industry, and heating contribute to 95% of CO2 output |
| Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) | Above annual limit value in Greater Paris Metropolis |
| Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) | Above annual limit value in sensitive areas |
| Ozone (O3) | Present in the air, contributing to pollution |
| Health Risks | Potential respiratory infections, irritation to eyes and nose, triggering respiratory conditions |
| Preventative Measures | Checking air quality maps, using apps to gauge safe days to go out |
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What You'll Learn
Paris's air pollution levels are moderate
While Paris's air pollution levels are not as drastic as those of other cities, they can still pose health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as the young, elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. High levels of PM2.5 and PM10 can irritate the mouth, nose, eyes, skin, and throat, and cause or trigger respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
To protect themselves from the potential health risks of air pollution, Parisians can take preventative measures such as limiting their exposure to pollution on days with high haze and smog, using resources like the Paris air quality map or the AirVisual app. Paris has also implemented policy initiatives to address air pollution, including the introduction of the new ATMO index in 2021, which accounts for sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5).
Despite these efforts, Paris still faces challenges in meeting the European Limit Value for NO2, and it may take several years to achieve this standard. Overall, while Paris's air pollution levels are moderate, the city is taking steps to improve air quality and protect the health of its residents.
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Transport, industry, and heating are the main causes
Paris has long struggled with poor air quality. As far back as the 18th century, during the Industrial Revolution, people were questioning the city's air quality. At the time, pollution came from the 80,000 horses that carried people and goods around Paris daily. In the 1900s, industrialisation led to many new forms of pollution, and in the 1930s, a deadly fog in Belgium caused by heavy industrial pollution changed the general perception of pollution. Similar events in Paris in 1951 forced authorities to set up regulatory bodies to address the problem.
Today, transport, industry, and heating are the main causes of pollution in Paris. Two-thirds of NO2 emissions in Paris come from traffic, especially diesel-fuelled vehicles, which produce 40% of fine particle emissions. To tackle this problem, Paris has launched a series of measures to move away from diesel vehicles and promote low-carbon mobility. The city is improving its pedestrian network, promoting the use of electric vehicles, and banning polluting diesel vehicles. Paris is also investing in alternative modes of mobility, such as its self-service bike and electric car-sharing programs, Velib' and Autolib', and has added 1,279 bicycle parking spots, with a goal of installing 1,400 km of cycle lanes by 2020.
The city's air quality improved during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels once restrictions are lifted. In 2021, there were 11 pollution episodes, and 60,000 residents were exposed to concentrations of nitrogen dioxide that exceeded French and European regulatory limits. The levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) have decreased compared to 2019, but they still exceed the World Health Organisation's recommendations.
To summarise, Paris has a long history of poor air quality, and while the city has implemented various initiatives to improve it, transport, industry, and heating remain the main causes of pollution.
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NO2 levels decreased by ~5% yearly from 2010
Paris has been described as the second most polluted city in France, with a moderate rating for 10 months of the year in 2019. The main sources of air pollution in Paris are transportation, industry, and the heating of homes and businesses.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a polluting gas harmful to the respiratory system, emitted mainly by thermal vehicles. According to Airparif, an independent group that tracks air quality in the capital region, nitrogen dioxide levels in Paris decreased by 50% between 2005 and 2023. More specifically, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on a given day in 2022, NO2 concentrations were 5% to 20% lower than on a usual Sunday, with the most significant drop observed near the Opéra and along main roads.
This decrease in NO2 levels is part of a broader trend in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Between 2010 and 2019, the annual number of deaths attributable to prolonged exposure to nitrogen dioxide in the region fell by 68%, from 520 to 3. While the decrease in NO2 levels is promising, air pollution is still responsible for nearly 2,000 deaths annually in Île-de-France.
To further reduce air pollution and protect public health, Paris implemented preventive measures in 2020 to maintain air quality improvements observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures included reducing movement and halting mass tourism, which contributed to lower pollution levels. Paris has also taken steps to limit traffic and ban the most polluting vehicles, which Airparif credits for the significant decrease in nitrogen dioxide levels since 2005.
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Euro V diesel vehicles helped reduce NO2
Paris, the capital of France, is ranked as the second most polluted city in the country, according to 2019 data. The city's air quality has been described as "moderately polluted", with a PM2.5 reading of 14.7 µg/m³. Living in Paris has been likened to "smoking up to 183 cigarettes a year", although this comparison seems to focus on summer readings when tourism is at its peak. Nevertheless, the city's air pollution can be detrimental to the health of its residents, particularly the young, elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
To address this issue, the EU has implemented a set of standards called the Euro emissions standards, which aim to reduce the levels of harmful exhaust emissions from vehicles. These standards are becoming increasingly stringent over time, with the latest update, Euro 6d, being mandated for emissions standards in 2021. Euro 5, a standard introduced before Euro 6, played a significant role in reducing NO2 emissions from diesel vehicles.
Euro 5 is a European emissions standard specifically designed for light-duty vehicles to help improve air quality. It imposes stricter limits on nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and other pollutant emissions from these vehicles. To meet these stricter limits, Euro 5 mandates the use of advanced technologies such as selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filters.
The introduction of Euro 5 standards has proven effective in reducing NO2 emissions, particularly when compared to older standards. On-road tests conducted on Euro 4, Euro 5, and Euro 6 diesel cars revealed that Euro 5 vehicles produced substantially lower NO2 emissions. This finding highlights the positive impact of the Euro 5 standard in mitigating NO2 pollution, which is a significant concern in urban areas with a high density of diesel cars.
While the Euro emissions standards have shown progress in reducing emissions, there have been concerns about the real-world effectiveness of these regulations. Some vehicles have been found to exhibit higher NOx emissions during actual driving conditions than during laboratory testing. This discrepancy has been attributed to manufacturers optimizing emissions performance solely for the test cycle. However, the overall trend suggests that the Euro emissions standards, including Euro 5, have contributed to reducing harmful exhaust emissions from vehicles, making a positive impact on air quality in European cities like Paris.
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Paris's air quality worsened between 2020 and 2021 due to the new ATMO index
Paris, the capital of France, has been ranked the second most polluted city in the country, according to data gathered in 2019. The city's PM2.5 reading of 14.7 µg/m³ classifies it as moderately polluted, although it is at the lower end of the spectrum. While Paris's air quality is better than that of other cities with a similar rating, certain groups, such as the young, elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, may still be at risk on days with higher pollution levels.
In 2020, preventative measures were implemented to prevent air pollution levels from returning to pre-COVID-19 numbers. These measures were expected to result in lower-than-usual pollution levels due to reduced movement and tourism. However, Paris's air quality seemed to worsen between 2020 and 2021, which experts attribute to the introduction of the new ATMO index.
The ATMO index, calculated at an air quality monitoring station in Paris' 4th arrondissement, reported average air quality for 77% of the days in 2021. The new ATMO index replaced the previous scale, which ranged from 1 (very good) to 10 (very bad). The current index includes categories such as extremely bad, very bad, bad, poor, average, and good. While the previous index provided an indication of air quality for the entire Parisian agglomeration, the new index is computed for a municipality.
The main causes of air pollution in Paris include transportation, a variety of industries, and the heating of homes and businesses.
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Frequently asked questions
Paris has been described as moderately polluted, with a PM2.5 reading of 14.7 µg/m³. This is 1.6 times the World Health Organisation's annual PM2.5 guideline value.
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter, which are particles of 2.5 or fewer micrometres in diameter. These particles can be harmful to human health, causing irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, and can worsen heart and respiratory conditions.
Paris is ranked 2nd for pollution levels out of all cities in France. In 2019, it was ranked 71st in the world for pollution levels. While Paris is considered moderately polluted, other cities with the same rating, such as Chiang Mai, are far more polluted.
There is a mid to long-term plan to reduce traffic and replace diesel cars with an electric fleet. Preventative measures were also implemented in 2020 to prevent air pollution levels from returning to pre-COVID-19 numbers. Paris also has an air quality monitoring system in place, with real-time data available to the public.
