2024 data reveals that air quality remains degraded in the areas of highest road traffic in Portugal. Of the 16 traffic monitoring stations existing in the country, 15 exceeded the annual recommended value by the World Health Organization for nitrogen dioxide, which represents almost all of these measurement points.
Lisbon and Braga stand out for being above the current Portuguese legal limit for this pollutant, which is less stringent than the WHO guidelines. This situation highlights the continued exposure of the population to pollution levels that health authorities consider harmful.
Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant primarily emitted by diesel vehicles and is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular problems. High-traffic zones are the most affected, exposing thousands of citizens daily to concentrations above those recommended for the protection of human health.
