The World Health Organisation’s danger limit of 10 micrograms of particles per cubic meter of air has been exceeded in around fifteen of the 60 council locations that have been tested in Portugal.Tiny airborne particles enter lungs and cardiovascular systems, causing life-threatening diseases such as strokes, heart attacks, lung obstructions and respiratory infections.
Exceeding the WHO limit is Lisbon, Cascais and Almada - but Porto is below the limit and the fresh air of Guimarães was the least polluted in the areas that were tested.
The WHO limit is much lower than that agreed between the European Commission and Portugal’s own government - 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
Taking the EU rules, all of the areas tested in Portugal were OK, despite pollution levels over 10 micrograms per cubic meter, implicated in respiratory health problems.
The Estarreja Council area, between Porto and Lisbon, has the highest value shown in the WHO report but the Council complained that the data collection system was flawed, and therefore considers the result to be inconclusive and "merely indicative."
Estarreja Council also claimed that, "the existing air quality monitoring station in the municipality is not limited to assessing the municipality’s air quality because there are no physical boundaries," and that the emission of particles from traffic, industrial areas and domestic fires could have drifted in from other places.
Europe generally does OK on air pollution stats. Estarreja, at 15 micrograms per m3 compares favourably with Muzaffarpur in India which has recorded 197 micrograms per m3, but this is renowned as the most polluted place on the planet.
In the Algarve, Portimão, Albufeira and Faro council areas let the region down with readings over the 10 micrograms per m3 limit.
The 15 sites in Portugal where air pollution is above the WHO limit, are:
Estarreja - 15
Almada - 14
Cascais -14
Lisboa -13
Portimão - 13
Albufeira - 12
Buraca - 12
Faro - 12
Algueirão-Mem Martins - 12
Ílhavo -12
Marateca - 12
Aveiro - 11
Chamusca - 11
Setúbal - 11
Vila do Conde - 11
Almada - 14
Cascais -14
Lisboa -13
Portimão - 13
Albufeira - 12
Buraca - 12
Faro - 12
Algueirão-Mem Martins - 12
Ílhavo -12
Marateca - 12
Aveiro - 11
Chamusca - 11
Setúbal - 11
Vila do Conde - 11
Form WHO information on measureemnts and airborne pollution, see: http://www.who.int/airpollution/ambient/pollutants/en/
