It may be hard to believe with all the heavy traffic and cars on the move all day long, but air quality in Île-de-France has been steadily improving! According to the report published in April 2025 by Airparif on the air quality in the region, pollution levels have dropped over the past twenty years, and 2024 is no exception!
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
A significant reduction in many pollutants
According to the Airparif report, a multitude of regulated air pollutants have seen a considerable decrease over the past 20 years. This includes nitrogen dioxide and particles, both of which have dropped by 50%. The concentration of fine particles has decreased by 55%. However, low-altitude ozone has not followed this downward trend, with its impact remaining roughly the same over the past 20 years. The 2024 report also indicates that sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, metals, benzene, other mono-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, all part of the monitored regulatory pollutants, meet the current air quality standards.
tures. These decreases can be explained in particular by the weather conditions of last year. The record rainfall allowed for the dispersion of pollution, while the not-so-cold winter limited the use of heating.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
While not all pollutants are on the decline, this report is still great news for the health of people in Île-de-France. Nitrogen dioxide, as well as fine particles, can have a dramatic impact, increasing the risks of diabetes, strokes, lung cancer, or even mortality.
Keep this momentum going until 2030
Things are evolving in the right direction, but it's not enough just yet. When it comes to nitrogen dioxide, for example, « 20% of the Île-de-France population will be exposed in 2024 to exceeding the annual limit value of the new European directive that will come into effect in 2030 », according to Airparif data. The goal within five years is to continue reducing these levels through public policies. « No more limit values...the current limit will not be exceeded », although « some areas, especially along major roadways, will still be affected by at least one exceedance of the limit value of the new directive applicable from 2030 », the report specifies.