Results of massive NO2 measurement experiment in Flanders (map+graph,Dutch text)
standaard.be
standaard.be
NO2 is only one aspect of air pollution, but it's a pretty good proxy for for general air pollution. Most airborne NO2 comes from internal combustion engines, which are also a significant source of other kinds of air pollution (particulate matter etc).
The results are pretty disturbing. Most people in Flanders essentially don't breathe clean air.
But in the autotranslation of the page with more details that I could find is not so bad: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&u=...
> 2.3 percent of the measuring points, or 410 locations, is above the norm. Up to 150,000 people live up to Flanders. Exceedances occur in a third of all municipalities. Although the question is how relevant that limit is. The WHO is currently in a process to review the recommended exposure limits. The outcome is only expected in 2020, but it is probably going to 30 μg / m3. That changes the picture for Flanders. 12.5 percent of the measuring points are above 30 μg / m3, which corresponds to the residence of about 813,000 Flemings. An orange ball in the street is not immediately reassuring. In addition, the WHO uses a 'threshold value' of 20 μg / m3. From then on, health effects occur. 60 percent of the measuring points are above the WHO threshold.
Is it wrong for me to say that outside of major cities (mostly just Antwerp), the air isn't any worse than 99% of developed countries?