Short answer. Check the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (GIOŚ) air quality portal, which shows current hourly measurements and the Polish Air Quality Index by station 12. The index has six levels, from "bardzo dobry" (very good) to "bardzo zły" (very bad) 2. When PM10 smog passes the information level of 100 µg/m³, young children, pregnant women, older people and people with heart or lung disease should limit time outdoors 3.
Where can I check air quality right now?
On the GIOŚ portal's current data page (Bieżące dane pomiarowe) 1. The index is calculated from 1-hour measurements of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM10, PM2.5 and ozone; a station generally takes the worst of its individual pollutant ratings, or the rating of the pollutant dominating air quality in its voivodeship 2. Values are shown from the last hour and are unverified data from automatic stations 2. A grey "Brak indeksu" (no index) means the station does not measure the pollutant that currently decides air quality in the region, usually particulate matter in autumn and winter and ozone in spring and summer 2.
What do the index levels mean?
GIOŚ publishes the 1-hour concentration bands and health advice for each level 2:
| Level | PM2.5 (µg/m³) | PM10 (µg/m³) | GIOŚ advice 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bardzo dobry (very good) | 0-13 | 0-20 | No health risk; no limits on outdoor activity |
| Dobry (good) | 13.1-35 | 20.1-50 | No or low risk; any outdoor activity |
| Umiarkowany (moderate) | 35.1-55 | 50.1-80 | Acceptable; may be a risk for sick or older people, pregnant women and small children |
| Dostateczny (sufficient) | 55.1-75 | 80.1-110 | A health risk, especially for those groups; consider shortening or spreading out outdoor activity, especially long or intense effort |
| Zły (bad) | 75.1-110 | 110.1-150 | Sick and older people, pregnant women and small children should avoid being outdoors; everyone else should keep outdoor physical activity to a minimum |
| Bardzo zły (very bad) | over 110 | over 150 | Those groups must avoid being outdoors; everyone else should stay outdoors only as much as necessary; all outdoor physical activity is discouraged |
The same scale also sets bands for ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide 2. See Air quality index explained.
How polluted is the air on average?
Fine particles are the problem. The population-weighted median of Polish cities shows about 15 µg/m³ of PM2.5 (annual mean 2021-2023) 5, three times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ 7. Nitrogen dioxide is about 9.9 µg/m³ 6, just under the WHO guideline of 10 µg/m³ 7. That NO2 figure is a regional background over roughly 80 km: a busy street will be higher.
What should I do on a smog day, or with smoke or dust?
- PM10 information level (100 µg/m³): small children, pregnant women, older people and people with heart or respiratory disease should limit time outside buildings; healthy adults should refrain from outdoor physical activity 3.
- PM10 alarm level (150 µg/m³): everyone should limit time outside buildings to the necessary minimum 3.
- Where the warnings appear: GIOŚ maps exceedances of the information and alarm levels over the last 24 hours 4, and notices of the risk or occurrence of an exceedance are published in the regional sections of the portal 3. See Pollution episodes and Sensitive people and polluted air.
- Ozone: Poland also sets an information and an alarm level for ozone 3. See Ozone days.
- Smoke or dust: see Wildfire smoke, A clean-air room at home, Masks for smoke and Dust storms. Our Poland alerts page explains how official warnings reach you.
A household plan can list who in your home is sensitive to polluted air and where to shelter.
Frequently asked questions
How many levels does the Polish air quality index have?
Six: bardzo dobry, dobry, umiarkowany, dostateczny, zły and bardzo zły 2.
What PM10 level triggers a smog warning in Poland?
The information level is 100 µg/m³ and the alarm level is 150 µg/m³ 3.
Should healthy adults exercise outdoors during smog?
Above the PM10 information level, GIOŚ advises healthy adults to refrain from outdoor physical activity 3.
Why is my station grey?
"Brak indeksu" means the station does not measure the pollutant currently deciding air quality in the region; its other results remain visible 2.
Sources
- Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ) — Ocena jakości powietrza – Bieżące dane pomiarowe — https://powietrze.gios.gov.pl/pjp/current (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ) — Informacje zdrowotne – Indeks Jakości Powietrza — https://powietrze.gios.gov.pl/pjp/content/health_informations (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ) — Informacje o wysokich stężeniach zanieczyszczeń w powietrzu — https://powietrze.gios.gov.pl/pjp/content/alarm_levels (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ) — Ostrzeżenia – Poziomy informowania i alarmowe — https://powietrze.gios.gov.pl/pjp/warnings (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis — Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 (annual mean 2021-2023) — https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/datasets/surface-pm2-5/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) — CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) — https://ads.atmosphere.copernicus.eu/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- World Health Organization (WHO) — WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228 (accessed 2026-10-27)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Poland, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ) · Ocena jakości powietrza – Bieżące dane pomiarowe checked 2026-10-27
- Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ) · Informacje zdrowotne – Indeks Jakości Powietrza checked 2026-10-27
- Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ) · Informacje o wysokich stężeniach zanieczyszczeń w powietrzu checked 2026-10-27
- Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ) · Ostrzeżenia – Poziomy informowania i alarmowe checked 2026-10-27
- Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis · Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 (annual mean 2021-2023) checked 2026-10-27
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) · CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) checked 2026-10-27
- World Health Organization (WHO) · WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) checked 2026-10-27