Air quality in Aberdeen

Welcome to Aberdeen City Council’s air quality web pages. These pages provide information on air quality in Aberdeen, pollutant types and health effects, measures being taken to improve air quality in Aberdeen and much more.

Clean air is essential for health and helps to make the city a pleasant place to live. The most recent information and data on air quality in Aberdeen is available in the Council’s Air Quality Annual Progress Report 2023. In Aberdeen air quality is generally good, however there are a few hot spots of raised pollution levels around the city centre and main roads such as Anderson Drive / Haudagain Roundabout and Wellington Road. Road traffic is the main source of pollution and the Council aims to improve air quality through the implementation of the Air Quality Action Plan.

However, clean air isn’t just the Council's responsibility: everyone can play their part by Doing Your Bit.

Our Idling page also explains the dangers of car idling and how it not only affects the quality of the air around us but is actually illegal. Read our Don't be an Idler flyer to find out more.

You can view and download recent and historical monitoring data from the Scottish Government air quality website:

• Air Quality in Scotland

Know & Respond - Scotland is a free service to subscribers in Scotland that sends registered users an alert message if air pollution in their area is forecast to be moderate, high or very high.

The map below shows the locations of non-automatic NO2 monitoring points in Aberdeen. You can zoom in and out of the map using the plus and minus signs at the top left. Alternatively, you can use the search box at the top right to search for a postcode or street in Aberdeen - this will zoom the map to that location. 

Some useful educational resources on air quality are available on these websites:

• Learn about air

• Clear the air Scottish air quality

• Children and Scottish air quality