Air alarm in Tirana/PD: Municipality admits that pollution is 14 times above the norm

2026-05-01 12:20:00, Aktualitet CNA

Air alarm in Tirana/PD: Municipality admits that pollution is 14 times above the

Uncritical concreting, heavy traffic and endless construction sites have produced an environmental emergency in the capital. Jonathan Pano, a member of the Municipal Council from the Democratic Party, directly accuses the leaders of the Municipality that after 12 years of promises for a "green city", the reality documented by the institution itself is alarming.

The Democratic Party warned that this issue will be pursued with priority in the Municipal Council, demanding an emergency plan for traffic and an immediate investigation into the sources of lead in the air that Albanians breathe.

"For years, the Democratic Party has denounced a bitter truth about Tirana: our capital is not being developed for its citizens, but is being used against them.

For years, we have denounced the indiscriminate concreting, heavy traffic, uncontrolled construction sites, the lack of public transportation, and the destruction of the quality of life in Tirana.

For years, the Municipality has called these denunciations 'political.' But today it is no longer just the opposition that is speaking out.

Today, the Tirana Municipality document itself speaks for itself.

And it says it clearly: Tirana does not breathe, but polluted air, many times above the permitted norms.

In its official document, the Municipality acknowledges alarming levels of PM10, PM2.5 and lead in key points of the city.

Let's put it simply, so that every citizen can understand it.

PM10 is the fine dust that citizens breathe in every day from traffic, blocked roads, construction sites, construction sites, and the city that has become an endless construction site. According to the document, in key points in Tirana, PM10 reaches 102.8 micrograms per cubic meter. The WHO norm is 15 micrograms per cubic meter.

So, PM10 is almost 7 times above WHO norms.

PM10 is not just dust that stains windows or roads. It gets into the airways and worsens asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory diseases.

Then there are PM2.5, the even more dangerous particles. They are so small that they penetrate deep into the lungs and are linked to serious respiratory and heart problems.

According to the same document, in key points in Tirana, PM2.5 reaches 70.7 micrograms per cubic meter. The annual norm is 5 micrograms per cubic meter. So, PM2.5 is 14 times above the norm.

Even more alarming is lead. Lead in the air is a serious threat to public health, especially for children. It is linked to nervous system damage, developmental problems, and long-term health consequences.

And what does the Municipality document say? In key points of Tirana, the lead level reaches 3.51 micrograms per cubic meter. The norm is 0.5 micrograms per cubic meter. So, 7 times above the norm.

This is no longer just pollution, but a threat to public health. It is an alarm bell for every parent in Tirana.

Who is responsible? Who has run Tirana for these 12 years? Who has signed the construction permits? Who has turned every corner of the city into a construction site? Who has added towers, but not added roads? Who has talked about a green city? Who promised modern public transport, but left citizens in traffic, dust and polluted air? Responsibility is political.

And the responsibility belongs to those who have been running Tirana for 12 years. Therefore, today, from the headquarters of the Democratic Party, we demand immediate measures.

First, daily publication of air quality in every problematic area of ??Tirana.

Secondly, immediate inspection of every construction site.

Third, immediate investigation into the sources of lead in the air.

Fourth, an emergency plan for traffic and public transportation. Fifth, political responsibility.

"The Democratic Party will not let this issue close with a report. We will pursue it in the City Council. We will pursue it in the institutions. We will pursue it publicly, every day," declared Jonathan Pano./ CNA