The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) has been monitoring air pollution sources in various parts of the Czech Republic for a long time using receptor models. The results of the investigation, which has been ongoing since 2018, show significant regional differences and long-term trends in household heating.
While in the northern regions of the Czech Republic coal combustion still contributes significantly to air pollution from domestic heating, in the southern parts of the country biomass predominates and the overall burden from households is lower. The different heating patterns are also reflected in the composition of pollution, for example in higher concentrations of carbonaceous particles and benzo[a]pyrene in the northern regions.
The CHMI data also confirm a long-term decline in emissions from household heating across the country. According to experts, this development is mainly related to the gradual replacement of older solid fuel boilers with more modern sources with more efficient combustion. There has also been an increase in emissions from the combustion of softwood, linked to the increasing use of automatic wood pellet boilers.
With declining emissions from households and industry, the impact of foreign pollution and natural resources is becoming more important. The results thus confirm that the modernisation of heating methods has a measurable and positive impact on air quality.
🔥 We heat differently, we breathe differently or Changes in heating in the Czech Republic
🧐 Since 2018, we have been gradually identifying the causes of air pollution in different parts of the Czech Republic using receptor models. We have already investigated a number of locations and the collected results show interesting long-term... pic.twitter.com/kC6M2qJDLR
- Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) (@CHMUCHMI) December 7, 2025
