Prague’s Air is Worse Than Ostrava’s – These Locations Exceed Safe Limits

Air pollution in Prague is worse than what the European Union (EU) allows and far beyond what the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends.

According to data from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), several locations in the capital have alarmingly high nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels.

Surprisingly, Prague performed worse in air quality measurements than Ostrava, a city traditionally associated with heavy industry.

While Ostrava met the EU’s NO₂ limits, Prague failed in most of the measured locations. Out of 17 traffic-heavy areas, only six complied with the EU’s air pollution standards.

Which Areas in Prague Have the Worst Air?

The EU’s legal limit for nitrogen dioxide stands at 40 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) of air. However, many places in Prague exceeded this limit by nearly 50%. The WHO’s guidelines are even stricter, recommending no more than 10 µg/m³—a level that Prague’s air quality falls far short of.

Some of the worst-affected locations include:

• Ječná Street – 58.0 µg/m³
• Plzeňská Street – 57.2 µg/m³
• Radlická and Klicperova – 50.7 µg/m³
• Ječná and Štěpánská intersection – 50.0 µg/m³
• Smetana Embankment near Novotný Bridge – 52.3 µg/m³

Other problematic locations include intersections at V Botanice (47.8 µg/m³), Želivského and Biskupcova (46.6 µg/m³), Spořilov (44.4 µg/m³), and Patočkova (44.4 µg/m³).

Experts Call for Urgent Solutions

Air quality specialists stress that the only way forward is to reduce traffic emissions and promote cleaner transport.

“The data clearly shows that without strong support for emission-free transport and the introduction of low-emission zones, we cannot improve air quality. Prague urgently needs measures to reduce car traffic, particularly in the historic center and around schools,” experts emphasize.

With the EU planning to lower its NO₂ limit to 20 µg/m³, the situation in Prague could become even more critical unless swift action is taken.

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