Air quality in Lithuania: where to check and what to do

Short answer. Lithuania's Environmental Protection Agency (AAA) links an air quality dashboard and air pollution maps from gamta.lt ¹. Phaenyx found no published national index scale; the European Environment Agency's index rates every station hourly in six levels, from "good" to "extremely poor" ². In the median Lithuanian city, fine particles (PM2.5) are about 10 µg/m³ a year, twice the WHO guideline ³⁵.

Where can I check air quality right now?

The Environmental Protection Agency (Aplinkos apsaugos agentūra, AAA) links from its home page, gamta.lt, to an air quality dashboard ("Aplinkos oro kokybės švieslentė") and to air quality and pollution maps ¹.

For all main pollutants on one map, in English, the European Air Quality Index covers Lithuania with hourly station data, a modelled layer and 48-hour forecasts; it also has a mobile app ². How official warnings reach you is on our Lithuania alerts page.

What do the index levels mean?

The European index uses six levels: good, fair, moderate, poor, very poor and extremely poor, set by the worst of five pollutants ². Phaenyx found no published scale or thresholds for a Lithuanian national air quality index. For fine particles (PM2.5), "good" is 0-5 µg/m³ and "poor" is 51-90 µg/m³ ².

Sensitive people here means adults and children with respiratory problems and adults with heart conditions ². The index shows the short-term (hourly) situation, not the long-term one ². See Air quality index explained.

How polluted is the air on average?

The population-weighted median of Lithuania's cities shows about 10 µg/m³ of PM2.5 (annual mean 2021-2023) ³, twice the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ ⁵. Nitrogen dioxide is about 5 µg/m³ ⁴, below the WHO guideline of 10 µg/m³ ⁵. That NO2 figure is a regional background over roughly 80 km: a busy street will be higher.

What should I do on a bad air day, or with smoke or dust?

Follow the EEA's general advice by index level, set out here ². Phaenyx found no official Lithuanian guidance on bad air days, wildfire smoke or dust.

• Poor or very poor: everyone should consider reducing intense outdoor activities if they have symptoms such as sore eyes, a cough or a sore throat; sensitive people should consider reducing (poor) or reduce (very poor) physical activities, particularly outdoors ².
• Extremely poor: everyone should reduce physical activities outdoors; sensitive people should avoid them ².

For practical steps, see Pollution episodes, People sensitive to polluted air, Children and polluted air, Wildfire smoke, A clean-air room at home, Masks for smoke and Dust storms.

A household plan can note who at home is sensitive to polluted air and where to stay on bad days.

Frequently asked questions

Does Lithuania have its own air quality index?

The AAA links an air quality dashboard ¹, but Phaenyx found no published national index scale. The EEA index covers Lithuania ².

Is Lithuania's air cleaner than the WHO guidelines?

Not for fine particles: about 10 µg/m³ against a guideline of 5 ³⁵. Background nitrogen dioxide, about 5 µg/m³, is below the guideline of 10 ⁴⁵.

Does the EEA index show long-term pollution?

No. It reflects hourly conditions ².