Air pollution in Brandenburg: Fine dust levels are currently alarming!

Air pollution in Brandenburg: Fine dust levels are currently alarming!

In the city of Brandenburg an der Havel, more precisely at the measuring station at the Werner-Seelenbinder sports field, impressive air quality measurements were published. According to the report from maz-online.de from August 13, 2025, the fine dust levels are alarming 100 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This is emerging as a “very bad” category because the limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter may only be exceeded 35 times a year.

But it's not just the fine dust that is causing problems for residents. The values ​​for nitrogen dioxide and ozone are also impressive. Here, for example, the nitrogen dioxide is also in the “bad” range and has reached values ​​between 101 and 200 μg/m³. Ozone, which is measured in the air especially in the hot months, also shows worrying numbers.

Health effects and recommendations

The consequences of this air pollution should not be underestimated. Every year around 240,000 people in the EU die prematurely due to fine dust. It is therefore all the more important to take the recommendations of the WHO and the Federal Environment Agency into account. The latter also introduced the new air quality guidelines, which are based on rigorous science. These guidelines aim to protect the health of the population and to better understand the impact of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Umweltbundesamt.de emphasizes that the guidelines quantify the effectiveness of air pollutants and provide recommendations for improving air quality.

Particularly sensitive people should avoid physical exertion outdoors when air quality values ​​are “very bad” or “poor”. For the general population, the expectations are quite clear. With good values, outdoor activities are possible without harm, while with moderate environmental conditions, cautious approaches are recommended.

A look at the causes

Another point that needs to be addressed is the role of New Year's Eve fireworks in air pollution. Fine dust is particularly noticeable here, as around 2,050 tons of fine dust are emitted annually, with 75 percent of these emissions being released on New Year's Eve. [maz-online.de]. can influence.

Air quality is a serious issue, not only in Brandenburg, but in all urban areas. Such reports and the updates of guidelines by environmental and health protection institutions make it clear that there is a need for action. Those responsible are required to take appropriate measures so that future generations can also live in a clean and healthy environment.