The quality of Albania's air is not well understood. In practice, however, monitoring throughout the country is neither consistent nor comprehensive, and improvements are urgently needed. Since 1992, many of these industries have closed. Although emissions data generally do not exist, it is evident that air quality has improved. Today, the major sources of air pollution are oil extraction and refining, domestic heating, cement production and unregulated garbage burning.
Transportation is an additional contributor of air pollution.
In 1989, there were a total of 2,000 cars in Albania. By 1998, the number had grown to 60,000, out of a. total of 150,000 vehicles nationwide. The fleet is generally old and uses leaded gas or diesel fuel. This rapid increase can be expected to be contributing higher quantities of NOx, S02, CO, particles and hydrocarbons. The NEA has drafted an air protection law and is updating the country's 1974 emissions standards or stationary sources in accordance with EU directives.