Air Quality on Construction Sites — The Overlooked Risk in Romania

Air quality in construction areas remains a rarely discussed topic in Romania, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) warns about the harmful impact of PM10 and PM2.5 particles emitted by machinery, transport, and excavation works. According to the European Environment Agency, more than 23% of urban pollution originates from construction and demolition activities.

Despite European recommendations, Romania lacks a functional national system for monitoring harmful particles on construction sites. Large-scale projects — such as highways or urban real estate developments — are not required to install air quality sensors or warning systems. Exceptions come from the private sector, where a few major real estate developers have begun installing dust sensors to monitor and mitigate local impact.

A 2023 Greenpeace report highlighted the absence of clear regulations regarding acceptable pollution limits during construction phases. Experts are now proposing the introduction of an environmental scoring system for high-risk construction sites.

(Photo: Freepik)