Worst air pollution Leith & Portobello - Edinburgh, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Leith & Portobello is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (O3: 29.4/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Leith & Portobello is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 24.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app

Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team

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Emissions along the A90 represent the town's main traffic-related pollution source. Being part of Edinburgh, City of, Leith & Portobello sees an air quality profile that's largely down to traffic and general town-centre activity. The prevailing Atlantic airflow do most of the work keeping things in check, more so than any local policy or infrastructure change.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 19:00

AQI:

Fair

29.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

15.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0.9/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

29.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.9/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

11.8/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Fair

24.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

13.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

1.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

24.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.9/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Leith & Portobello right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Leith & Portobello is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 29.4/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (O3: 29.4/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Leith & Portobello?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Leith & Portobello will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 24.7/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Leith & Portobello?

Seasons make a real difference to air quality in Leith & Portobello, more than most people realise. Warmer months swap one problem for another — less smoke and heating pollution, but more ozone on the sunniest days. Through the colder months, readings near the A90 often rise, since chimney smoke and stagnant air stop pollutants clearing away. Spring and autumn usually sit somewhere in between, so it's really the extremes of the year worth watching.

Are air quality levels in Leith & Portobello based on measurements or forecasts?

It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.

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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)

This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.

Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app