Crap Towns / Edinburgh / Air quality
How dirty is the air in Edinburgh?
People in Edinburgh breathed an average of 9.7 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre in 2024, 20% higher than the typical town's 8.1, and 4.9 of fine particles (PM2.5), 27% lower than the typical town's 6.7. Both are within the World Health Organization's guidelines of 10 and 5.
| Pollutant | Here | Typical town | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 9.7 | 8.1 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 4.9 | 6.7 | 5 |
| Town | Distance | Nitrogen dioxide, µg/m³ |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | – | 9.7 |
| Kirkliston | 11.9 km | 8.5 |
| South Queensferry | 12.2 km | 8.4 |
| Musselburgh | 10.4 km | 6.7 |
| Loanhead | 7.5 km | 6.6 |
| Dalkeith | 11.0 km | 5.8 |
| Dalgety Bay | 13.9 km | 5.7 |
| Bonnyrigg | 9.8 km | 5.4 |
| Burntisland | 13.9 km | 4.8 |
| Mayfield | 12.8 km | 4.7 |
| Penicuik | 11.2 km | 4.1 |
| The typical town | – | 8.1 |