Nitrogen dioxide continues to be a significant problem in Portuguese cities, affecting air quality and population health. Traffic is identified as one of the main sources of this pollution, contributing substantially to the high levels of concentration of this pollutant in the urban atmosphere.
The situation has serious consequences for public health. It is estimated that in Portugal air pollution causes approximately 4,200 premature deaths per year, which is equivalent to about 12 daily deaths attributable to poor air quality.
This reality highlights the urgent need for mitigation measures and effective public policies to reduce emissions from the transport sector, which remains one of the main contributors to air pollution in urban areas of the country.
