A groundbreaking international study published in Nature warns that Athens ranks among Europe’s most polluted cities in terms of the oxidative potential of airborne particles – their ability to cause oxidative stress in the human body.

Researchers found the Greek capital among the six cities with the highest oxidative potential for PM10 particles and among the top three for the finer, more harmful PM2.5.

The study, coordinated by Université Grenoble Alpes with participation by the National Observatory of Athens, shifts focus from particle concentration to chemical reactivity, a factor expected to shape new EU air-quality limits in 2026.

“Until now, standards considered only particle concentration, not their quality,” said Nikos Michalopoulos of the Athens Observatory. He called the findings “very alarming,” linking high oxidative stress to urban traffic emissions and wood burning.

Researchers estimate a 15% cut in such emissions could significantly reduce urban oxidative potential.

Source: Ekathimerini.com