Air quality in Brandenburg: Fine dust levels are alarmingly high!

Air quality in Brandenburg: Fine dust levels are alarmingly high!

Air quality in Germany is an urgent issue that is receiving more and more attention. In Brandenburg an der Havel, and especially at the Werner-Seelenbinder sports field, measured values ​​were recently published that illustrate the current situation. According to the data from maz-online.de from June 19, 2025, the focus is on fine dust particles (PM10). The limit value for PM10 is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, although this value may be exceeded 35 times per year.

But how does the picture actually appear? The measured values ​​show that the air quality is heavily polluted in a category of “very poor” (fine dust over 100 μg/m³) and “poor” (51-100 μg/m³). These conditions are alarming, as around 240,000 premature deaths in the EU each year can be attributed to fine dust pollution. If the values ​​are poor, people are advised to avoid physical exertion outdoors, especially for sensitive people.

Current measurements and trends

An evaluation of the Federal Environment Agency describes the development of fine dust pollution in Germany since 2000. There, the annual average PM10 values ​​fell from up to 50 µg/m³ in the 1990s to values ​​between 15 and 20 µg/m³ - a progress that is encouraging. Nevertheless, the burden is still higher in metropolitan areas, especially in cities like Munich and Essen. Here, almost three quarters of the measuring stations exceed the limit values ​​for harmful nitrogen dioxide.

The causes of fine dust pollution are diverse. In addition to traffic and industry, natural factors such as weather conditions also contribute. Particularly high PM10 concentrations can occur during dry winters and hot summers, highlighting the need to continue to monitor air quality and take action if necessary.

Health effects and demands

The health effects of these air pollutions are alarming. A new initiative by the German environmental aid demands that the federal government take measures to set the limit values ​​in accordance with WHO recommendations. These have been drastically reduced: compliance with these values ​​could potentially prevent 28,900 premature deaths from fine dust annually.

The need to act is therefore clear, and it is up to those responsible not only to protect the health of citizens, but also to improve the quality of life through clean air. It remains to be seen what political decisions will be made in the near future to address this challenge.