Short answer. Check current air pollution on the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN, German BAFU) website or the free airCHeck and MeteoSwiss apps 12. The two seasonal problems are summer ozone, when cantons inform the public above 180 µg/m³, and winter fine dust during temperature inversions 13. On high-ozone days, go outside as usual but keep sport for the morning or after sunset 1.
Where can I check air quality in Switzerland right now?
FOEN's "current data" page shows pollutant levels from the national monitoring network (NABEL) and from cantonal and city networks, and models air quality across the whole country from these measurements 2. It warns that local concentrations can be higher or lower than the averaged values on the maps 2. FOEN also points to the free airCHeck and MeteoSwiss apps and to ozon-info.ch for current ozone information 1.
What do the levels mean?
On the FOEN pages we read, we found no national public index with health bands; if your canton publishes one, use its scale. The national reference points for ozone are 1:
| Ozone level | What it means |
|---|---|
| 120 µg/m³ | Limit in the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, still often exceeded over large areas in summer |
| 180 µg/m³ | Cantons actively inform the public during acute smog episodes |
| Above 240 µg/m³ | Peaks that now hardly ever occur |
North of the Alps, peaks today reach 150 to 180 µg/m³; in Ticino they are higher 1. For how indexes work in general, see air quality index.
How polluted is Swiss air on average?
Annual fine particles (PM2.5) in the median Swiss city were about 9 µg/m³ in 2021-2023, against a WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ 46. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was about 10.5 µg/m³, against a WHO guideline of 10 µg/m³ 56. These are population-weighted medians across 1,567 cities, and the NO2 figure is a regional background over roughly 80 km: a busy street is higher.
FOEN says that fine-dust limits can still be exceeded during winter temperature inversions 3, and that the ozone limit is still often exceeded over large areas in summer 1.
What should I do on a high-ozone day?
The FOEN advice 1:
- You do not need to stay indoors, and children should not be kept from playing outside.
- Do sport and leisure activities preferably in the morning or after sunset, when ozone is lower.
- Avoid intense physical effort during the hottest part of the day.
- Sensitive people should watch for warning signs from their body; anyone with repeated symptoms should see a doctor.
FOEN notes that about 10 to 15% of the Swiss population react particularly strongly to high ozone, and that asthmatics often react more than healthy people 1. See ozone days and sensitive people and polluted air.
What about winter smog or smoke?
For winter fine-dust episodes, follow your canton's information and see pollution episode. For smoke from fires, see wildfire smoke, masks for smoke and clean air room. Your household plan can note who at home is sensitive to polluted air.
Frequently asked questions
Should children stay indoors when ozone is high in Switzerland?
No. FOEN says children should not be kept from playing outside; intense effort should be avoided in the hottest part of the day 1.
When is ozone lowest?
In the morning and after sunset, according to FOEN 1.
Who warns the public about smog?
The cantons. They inform the population actively once ozone exceeds 180 µg/m³ 1.
Is Swiss air cleaner than the WHO guideline?
Not for PM2.5: the median city is about 9 µg/m³ against 5 µg/m³ 46. Background NO2 is close to the 10 µg/m³ guideline 56.
Sources
- Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU — Ozon und Sommersmog in der Schweiz – Faktenblatt des Bundesamts für Umwelt BAFU — https://www.bafu.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/aFldZc7ufjfQ/Faktenblatt%20Ozon%202026%20DE.pdf (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU — Luftbelastung: aktuelle Daten — https://www.bafu.admin.ch/de/luftbelastung-aktuelle-daten (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU — Luftbelastung — https://www.bafu.admin.ch/de/luftbelastung (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis — Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 — https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/datasets/surface-pm2-5/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service — CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) — https://ads.atmosphere.copernicus.eu/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- World Health Organization — WHO global air quality guidelines — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228 (accessed 2026-10-27)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Switzerland, 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
- Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU · Ozon und Sommersmog in der Schweiz – Faktenblatt des Bundesamts für Umwelt BAFU checked 2026-10-27
- Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU · Luftbelastung: aktuelle Daten checked 2026-10-27
- Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU · Luftbelastung checked 2026-10-27
- Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis · Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 checked 2026-10-27
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service · CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) checked 2026-10-27
- World Health Organization · WHO global air quality guidelines checked 2026-10-27