Sulfur Dioxide

EU annual/period limit for Sulfur Dioxide is 125 µg/m³ - upper limit-value tercile among pollutants with station rows here.

EU limit value

125 µg/m³

daily mean. Directive 2008/50/EC.

WHO 2021 guideline

40 µg/m³

24-hour mean

High numeric EU ceiling for Sulfur Dioxide

The Directive posts a comparatively high numeric ceiling for Sulfur Dioxide (125 µg/m³, daily mean). Compare that figure to the WHO line and to peer pollutants before reading the station table as “safe”.

Primary sources: Coal and oil combustion, industrial processes, shipping (heavy fuel oil).

Health impact: Irritates respiratory system, exacerbates asthma. Largely controlled in EU since 1990s.

Measurement method: Reference: UV fluorescence, EN 14212

Directive ceiling 125 µg/m³ versus WHO 2021 guideline 40 µg/m³ (3.1×). The October 2024 Directive revision schedules further tightening toward 2030.

Top stations measuring Sulfur Dioxide

Station City Country Type Annual mean
Warsaw-Marszalkowska Warsaw PL traffic 7.1 µg/m³
Krakow-Krasinskiego Krakow PL traffic 7.1 µg/m³
Sofia-Orlov most Sofia BG traffic 6.1 µg/m³
Bucharest-Cercul Militar Bucharest RO traffic 5.3 µg/m³
Bratislava-Kamenne namestie Bratislava SK traffic 4.9 µg/m³
Prague-Legerova Prague CZ traffic 4.8 µg/m³
Athens-Piraeus Athens GR traffic 4.4 µg/m³
Milan-Pascal Milan IT traffic 3.7 µg/m³
Nicosia-Centre Nicosia CY traffic 2.8 µg/m³
Vilnius-Savanoriu prospektas Vilnius LT traffic 2.4 µg/m³
Barcelona-Eixample Barcelona ES traffic 2.1 µg/m³
Munich-Altperlach Munich DE background 2 µg/m³
Rotterdam-Schiedamsevest Rotterdam NL traffic 2 µg/m³
Brussels-Molenbeek Brussels BE background 1.8 µg/m³
Marseille-Cinq Avenues Marseille FR background 1.6 µg/m³

Common European air pollutants · All pollutants with station rows

Source: European Environment Agency, Average Exposure Indicator / Burden of Disease (wired extract, August 2026).

Source: World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines, 2021 update.

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.