A new air quality index (W_jp) was employed to assess air pollution in seventeen localities in the Łódź province. The index was worked out using data on sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and suspended dust. Calculations were based on the results of measurements performed in the period 1995–2000 as a part of the National Environmental Monitoring. For each locality, dimensionless coefficients (W_pa) of the ambient concentration of each pollutant were calculated and then added up to obtain the W_jp index for the locality. On the basis of W_jp values the localities were divided into three air quality classes. According to this classification, the localities showing the highest air pollution with the three substances considered are large and medium towns such as Opoczno (3rd, poorest class), and Łask, Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Sieradz and Kutno (2nd class).

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