Red alert: Brandenburg's air quality endangers health!

Red alert: Brandenburg's air quality endangers health!

What is the air quality like in Germany? The view of Brandenburg an der Havel provides interesting insights. According to the current measurements at the Werner-Seelenbinder sports field, an alarming picture emerges. On July 4, 2025, fine dust levels were measured at a remarkable 100 micrograms per cubic meter of air, which is classified as “very bad”. The limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter was clearly exceeded. In principle, this value may only be exceeded on a maximum of 35 days per year, but the excesses are particularly pronounced in metropolitan areas, such as maz-online.de confirmed.

Fine dust, particularly in the form of PM10 and PM2.5, has become a central issue in air pollution control. PM10 measurements have been carried out in Germany since 2000 and have shown positive trends since then - the annual average values ​​have fallen from 50 µg/m³ in the 1990s to between 15 and 20 µg/m³ today. However, it should be noted that 99 percent of the measuring stations exceed the upper limit of 5 µg/m³ recommended by the WHO. Here, deutsche Umwelthilfe makes it clear that the federal government must act urgently.

Health risks and recommendations

The health risks caused by fine dust should not be underestimated. Every year in the EU there are around 240,000 premature deaths caused by air pollution. The health consequences are particularly serious for sensitive groups, such as seniors and people with previous illnesses. If the air quality is “very poor,” it is advisable to avoid physical exertion outdoors. At values ​​of 51 to 100 µg/m³, sensitive people should avoid strenuous activities outside. Short-term health effects are unlikely for “moderate” values, but sensitivity is also required here, as set out in the measurement data and recommendations of umweltbundesamt.de.

It is also interesting that the WHO set clear limit values ​​for fine dust and nitrogen dioxide in its statement from 2021, but these are not adhered to in Germany. Almost three quarters of the measuring stations exceed the harmful value of 10 µg/m³ for nitrogen dioxide. With the current peak values ​​recorded in cities such as Munich and Essen, deutsche Umwelthilfe sees the Federal Government as being required to act promptly and make the air quality guidelines more stringent.

Fine dust from fireworks

An additional aspect of fine dust pollution is fireworks. Around 2,050 tons of fine dust are produced in Germany every year, of which 1,500 tons escape during New Year's Eve alone. This corresponds to around 1 percent of annual emissions in Germany. However, these values ​​vary depending on meteorological conditions and show that air quality suffers particularly during these critical times. Fine dust from fireworks is often classified as harmful to health and increases the already high level of pollution.

In summary, it can be seen that the air quality problem in Germany is still a hot topic. It remains to be hoped that the federal government will assume the necessary pressure and responsibility to protect the health of the population and sustainably improve air quality.