Asked by you — how polluted is Barcelona?

Barcelona has moderate levels of pollution, particularly in terms of air quality.

For those who are interested in more details

Barcelona is known for its beautiful architecture and stunning beaches, but the city is also plagued by moderate levels of pollution. Air quality is a major concern in Barcelona, with levels of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides often exceeding the EU limits. According to the European Environment Agency, the city has some of the worst air quality in Europe. However, the Catalan government has taken steps to address the issue, such as implementing traffic restrictions and promoting public transportation.

As for water pollution, Barcelona’s beaches were once known for being polluted, but the city has made significant strides in improving water quality. In fact, the beaches were declared clean enough to swim in during the 1992 Summer Olympics, which were held in Barcelona.

Here are some interesting facts about pollution in Barcelona:

• In 2019, Barcelona implemented a low-emission zone in the city center, which only allows the most eco-friendly vehicles into the area.
• The city has a bike-sharing system called Bicing, which has over 500 stations and 6,000 bikes.
• Barcelona has a high concentration of diesel vehicles, which are a major contributor to air pollution.
• The Sagrada Familia, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, had to be cleaned of pollution in 2019 due to years of exposure to exhaust fumes.

As actor Javier Bardem once famously said, “Air pollution is a worldwide problem. The effects of air pollution on global warming, and the impact on public health, are very concerning.” Barcelona may have moderate pollution levels, but it is important for the city to continue to address the issue in order to protect the health of its residents and visitors.

Table: Pollution Levels in Barcelona

Here are some more answers to your question

What is the current air quality in Barcelona?

Air pollution level	Air quality index	Main pollutant
Good	20 US AQI	PM2.5

Barcelona records pollution levels that are very harmful for people’s health and do not comply with WHO recommendations. The pollutants considered most harmful to human health in Barcelona are fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), pollutants attributed to urban and regional traffic. High concentrations of NO 2 and particulate matter have been an ongoing problem for the Catalan capital.

Barcelona records pollution levels (particularly suspended particulate matter PM10 and nitrogen dioxide NO 2) that are very harmful for people’s health and do not comply with WHO recommendations. 98% and 68% of the population, respectively, may be exposed to levels of PM10 and NO 2 above those recommended.

The pollutants considered most harmful to human health in Barcelona are fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), pollutants attributed to urban and regional traffic. High concentrations of NO 2 and particulate matter have been an ongoing problem for the Catalan capital.

In 2015, Barcelona was assigned a D- grade by Friends of the Earth when evaluated against European Commission guidelines for air quality. 1 This score was determined by the levels of air pollutants in Barcelona and measures the city had in place to reduce emissions.

Response via video

Barcelona is introducing superblocks, a new urban design which aims to reduce the presence of cars, eliminate through traffic and prioritize pedestrian paths. The results from the northwest of the city have shown a significant reduction in pollution and an increase in pedestrian spaces and business success. The speaker suggests that such a plan can work anywhere if alternative transportation methods are created, and infrastructure is designed to support non-car modes of transport. The goal is to live close to each other without cars and create a city where living, working, and playing can be achieved with the use of alternative transportation methods.

You will most likely be intrigued