Crap Towns / Kirkwall / Air quality
How dirty is the air in Kirkwall?
People in Kirkwall breathed an average of 2.8 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre in 2024, 65% lower than the typical town's 8.1, and 4.1 of fine particles (PM2.5), 39% 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) | 2.8 | 8.1 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 4.1 | 6.7 | 5 |
| Town | Distance | Nitrogen dioxide, µg/m³ |
|---|---|---|
| Lerwick | 165.5 km | 4.4 |
| Fraserburgh | 154.5 km | 3.6 |
| Elgin | 150.1 km | 3.3 |
| Kirkwall | – | 2.8 |
| Buckie | 145.7 km | 2.7 |
| Lossiemouth | 142.4 km | 2.6 |
| Nairn | 164.8 km | 2.2 |
| Alness | 162.1 km | 2.0 |
| Wick | 59.9 km | 1.9 |
| Forres | 157.9 km | 1.8 |
| Thurso | 54.4 km | 1.7 |
| The typical town | – | 8.1 |