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Air Quality in Slovakia Is Improving, But We Still Do Not All Breathe the Same Air
30. 06. 2026
Air
Air quality in Slovakia has been improving over the long term. This is confirmed by the latest Air Quality Report of the Slovak Republic for 2025, published by the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMI). Monitoring and modelling results show that concentrations of several air pollutants continue to decline across most of the country. However, air quality remains poor in some regions, particularly during the heating season and in areas affected by intensive traffic and industrial activity.
What Did 2025 Show?
The limit value for the daily average concentration of PM10 was exceeded at two monitoring stations, Veľká Ida and Jelšava. During the winter months, the main source of these particles is residential heating with solid fuels. Under unfavourable weather conditions, such as temperature inversions, air pollution tends to accumulate in valleys and basins.
Ground-level ozone also affected several locations. Its target value was exceeded at three monitoring stations, Bratislava-Jeséniova, Nitra-Janíkovce, and Chopok - mainly due to the hot weather experienced during June and July.
Another continuing concern is benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogenic substance produced primarily by burning wood and coal in older or improperly operated heating appliances. Its target value was exceeded at more than half of all monitoring stations.
Cleaner Air Is Not Enough
This year's report also includes the first comparison of current air quality with the requirements of the new European Ambient Air Quality Directive, which will introduce stricter limit values after 2030, bringing them closer to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Although Slovakia has made significant progress in improving air quality, meeting these future standards will require further reductions in emissions from transport, industry, and residential heating. Continued action in these sectors will be essential if we want to breathe cleaner air in the years ahead.
The full Air Quality Report of the Slovak Republic for 2025 is available on the SHMI website:
https://www.shmu.sk/sk/?page=1&id=oko_roc_s
