What is the air quality in Zurich like?
Thecity of Zurich had an average fine-dust pollution (PM2.5) of 10.9 µg/m3 in 2019, which isthe same as the average concentration for the whole of Switzerland, which wasalso µg/m3 in 2019. In comparison to previous years, there is noclear trend towards improved air quality for PM2.5 in Zurich. In 2017 and 2018,the PM2.5 measurement for Zurich was 10.4 µg/m3 and 11.2 µg/m3respectively. This means that air pollution in Zurich is around 10% above theWorld Health Organization (WHO) guideline value of 10 µg/m3 for particulatematter PM2.5. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), Zurich's annual average air quality hasbeen classified as "good" since 2017.
Thelevel of air pollution in Zurich varies throughout the year. The month ofFebruary has the worst air quality, measuring 20.9 µg/m3 of averagePM2.5, and is more than twice the WHO guideline value. In September 2019,however, air quality was only 7.2 µg/m3, thus meeting whor*commendations. Particularly in the winter months and on special publicholidays, such as the Swiss National Day on 1st August and New Year's Day, whenthere is significant use of fireworks, peak levels of particulate matter areoften reached. Due to these peaks, which are visible on the city map, in 2019"moderate" PM2.5 values were reached, which can pose healthchallenges for sensitive groups, such as asthmatics, in Zurich on these days.
How does air pollution in Zurich compare to other cities?
Ifyou want to compare the annual the average value of PM2.5 in Zurich (10.9 µg/m3) withother cities in Switzerland, you can easily do so on the 2019 city rankingstable. Here you can see that although the Swiss capital Bern had the same average PM2.5 particulatematter pollution in 2019 as Zurich, in 2018 and 2017 it was 14% and 30% higherrespectively than Zurich's values.
Withthe data from the 2019World Air Quality Report, it is also possible to compare Zurich's airquality values internationally. For example, Beijing, the capital of China, has almost fourtimes higher particulate matter pollution with 42.1 µg/m3 PM2.5. Tokyo, Japan, on theother hand, is only slightly above the Zurich PM2.5 value of 11.7 µg/m3.Sydney in Australiais better than Zurich at 10.1 µg/m3. In a European comparison,Zurich's air quality is average. For example, on an annual average, Berlin has slightlybetter air and Viennahas slightly worse air than Zurich.
Is the air in Zurich getting better or worse?
Since1986 it has been clear that air quality in Zurich has been improvingsignificantly. This has been achieved through various measures and trafficrestrictions introduced in 1986. At that time, the health authority created agoal to reduce air pollution. Measuring stations for nitrogen oxides (NOx),nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM10 and/or PM2.5),ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2)were installed throughout the city. These stations are still in use today.
Inrecent years, Zurich's air quality has remained relatively constant. The valuesare kept in check by various measures and thus do not exceed a"moderate" value on the air quality index (German: LQI, English:AQI), but regularly exceed the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Where can you see real-time air quality for Zurich?
TheAirVisual app andthe IQAir websitedisplay Zurich's air quality in real-time. It also provides an air qualityforecast for the next 7 days. This is calculated from weather data, air qualitydata from public and private measuring stations and traffic data. Throughregular monitoring, it is possible for sensitive people to adapt theiractivities to the current air quality and take appropriate precautions.
Inaddition, on the real-time map at the top of this website, one can observe airquality in Zurich and the surrounding area at local and regional level.
What causes air pollution in Zurich?
Theair pollution in the city of Zurich is mainly due to the heavy traffic of carsand heavy goods vehicles, as well as private wood burning in winter. Airpollution has already cost the city of Zurich approximately 296 million Swissfrancs in 2010. Traffic contributed to this figure with a share of about 45%,closely followed by 30% due to industry with construction machinery andindustrial and commercial processes. Around 20% of the costs caused by airpollutants in Zurich are attributable to wood combustion in private households.
Themain polluter, traffic, is mainly dominated by motorized road traffic. Half ofthe NOx emissions and around 33% of the particulate matter are attributable toroad traffic. Rail transport also contributes partially to transport emissions.Abrasion during use, especially of iron, causes the majority of PM10 emissionsinto Zurich's air. Although passenger and cargo ships account for a smallproportion of the pollution in Switzerland as a whole, shipping on Lake Zurichcan cause significant local pollution of soot particles. As passenger ships aremostly powered by diesel, they are obliged to use particle filters to reduceemissions of the pollutants.
ZurichAirport, which is used frequently, is not located in the city of Zurich, but inthe neighboring municipality of Kloten. Due to the immediate vicinity,slightly higher measured values of the pollutants can be seen on the real-timemap of Zurich and the surrounding area. Within the space of just a few kilometers,however, the airport-related emissions are masked by local emissions, such asthose from ground-level traffic, and are therefore become unmeasurable.
Why is particulate matter so dangerous in Zurich?
Thedanger of PM2.5 is that this fine dust consists of solid and liquid airpollutants that are so small that they can pass almost unhindered through theairways to the alveoli and settle there. This deposit causes damage that makesthe body more susceptible to infectious diseases. An excess of particulatematter in the respiratory system can cause irritation, asthma andcardiovascular disease. The impairment of lung function caused by particulatematter pollution triggers further cardiovascular diseases. Particularly harmfulare soot particles, which are carcinogenic and are also responsible forprenatal genetic damage.
Otherair pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), can also damage the respiratorysystem. Inhalation of NOx can lead to NO2 compounds in the blood,which are considered extremely toxic. Another pollutant in Zurich is ozone (O3).This not only affects human health through irritation of the respiratory tractand the eyes but also that of plants. The harmfulness of ozone is due to itshigh oxidation power and low water solubility.
What is being done in Zurich to improve air quality?
TheCity of Zurich is following the action plan of the Canton of Zurich. To combatwinter smog due to inversion weather conditions, measures have been establishedat a cantonal level which also affects the city of Zurich. There are 3 stagesof the SMOG Ordinance, which come into force when the measured particulatematter value PM10 rises above a predetermined limit of 75 µg/m3. Inthe first stage, with particulate matter above 75 µg/m3, residentsare informed and encouraged to use public transport to reduce particulatematter. If the value of 100 µg/m3 is exceeded, a speed limit on themotorway will be introduced after consultation with the neighboring cantons inorder to reduce the amount of particulate matter released at higher speeds.Open fires, as well as stoves without a particle filter, may not be used whenexceeding these fine dust values. If the particulate matter levels exceed 150µg/m3, the ban on diesel-powered machines will also come into force.These measures will be lifted again when the particulate matter level fallsbelow 50 µg/m3 again.
Aswood combustion is a significant contributor to air pollution in Zurich, theair pollution control measures plan sets a certain standard for the entirecanton of Zurich in terms of thermal output. If necessary, these requirementsare to be followed up by the renovation of furnaces in order to reduceparticulate matter within the city. Also, only certain fuels (wood) are to beused and the chimneys are to have a certain height and width at the mouth. Theplan of measures also considers the source of emissions from industry andcommerce. In this respect, the measures focus mainly on construction machineryand equipment used, which are mainly diesel-powered. However, the limit valuesfor dust emissions have also been revised. Further industrial combustionreleases pollutants into the Zurich air from combustion plants using oil, gasand wood. In order to improve these values in accordance with the Ordinance onAir Pollution Control, the Canton of Zurich is attempting to make the pollutingtechnologies more environmentally friendly and thus comply with the newemission regulations. However, the municipalities themselves are responsiblefor monitoring compliance within the cantonal limits.
