Tirana and Elbasan continue to have high levels of PM10 particles (fine dust suspended in the air that can penetrate the respiratory tract), exceeding the permitted annual limits.
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Elbasan is also the only city where the nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) standard has been exceeded. At least that is what emerges from the 2025 State of the Environment Report of the National Environment Agency (AKM).
The report is based on air quality monitoring at nine stations in Tirana, Durrës, Elbasan, Shkodër, Korçë, and Fier.
The measurements include the main air pollutants, such as PM10 and PM2.5 dust particles, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), and benzene, to assess whether the air meets national and European Union standards.
According to AKM, PM10 are dust particles with a diameter up to 10 micrometers, which are mainly generated by road traffic, industrial activities, heating with fuels, and other sources.
The report emphasizes that these particles can cause or worsen heart and lung diseases, while long-term exposure is also linked to higher health risks.
During the period July-December 2025, the annual standard for PM10 was exceeded at two monitoring stations. At the “Tirana Higjena” station, an average of 57.66 micrograms per cubic meter was recorded, 44% above the permitted limit, while in Elbasan the value reached 59.72 micrograms per cubic meter, 49% above the norm.
The report also highlights that at the “Tirana Higjena” station, 33 days were recorded with PM10 concentrations above the permitted daily limit, out of a maximum of 35 days allowed by the standard within a year.
For the even finer PM2.5 particles, which penetrate deeper into the lungs, AKM reports that no exceedance of the annual norm was found at any of the monitored stations, although values in Korçë were close to the permitted limit.
As for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), a pollutant mainly linked to vehicle emissions and industrial activity, an exceedance of the annual limit value was recorded only in Elbasan, where the average reached 40.18 micrograms per cubic meter.
For other pollutants, AKM finds that no exceedances of limits were recorded for sulfur dioxide (SO₂).
Meanwhile, exceedances of the eight-hour standard for ozone were evident in Fier, Korçë, Shkodër, and at two stations in Tirana, while for carbon monoxide the exceedance was recorded only in Fier. For benzene, no exceedance of the annual norm was found at any station.
In the report’s conclusions, AKM assesses that “air quality in the monitored cities is not at a very good level.”
According to the institution, the main pollutant remains PM10 particles, especially at the “Tirana Higjena” and Elbasan stations, where the main source of pollution is identified as road traffic.
Multi-year monitoring shows that the main sources of air pollution in Albania are related to traffic, construction activities, and the use of fossil fuels for heating./Monitor
