Air quality around ports and airports

This briefing presents information about air quality near key European ports and airports, based on 2021 and 2023 data from EEA member countries and air quality maps. It supports the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive, which identifies ports and airports as potential air quality hotspots.

Key messages:

• NOx emissions from shipping and aviation are rising. Maritime transport is projected to become the main source of transport-related air pollution in coastal cities by 2030.
• Current air quality monitoring around some ports and airports is limited and does not fully capture their impact. Good network design is critical to assess potential harms to human health.
• Ambient NO2 concentrations doubled in some areas when wind was coming from the airports or ports, compared to other wind directions. NO2 levels at ports and airports were consistently higher than in surrounding regions, in some cases above the revised 2030 annual limit for the EU.
• The impact on PM2.5 is complex and less directly attributable to port or airport emissions alone. Some surrounding regions showed high levels. Six airports and 13 ports had levels above the revised 2030 limit value.
• Elevated concentrations of ultrafine particles were found near some airports compared to background levels. Standardised measurements are needed for consistent assessments.