Air quality in Potsdam: Fine dust levels are rising – what does that mean for you?

Air quality in Potsdam: Fine dust levels are rising – what does that mean for you?

Today, October 4, 2025, we take a closer look at air quality in Potsdam, an issue that affects us all. A measuring station in the center of the city continuously records air values, which are particularly important for sensitive people. In particular, the fine dust concentration (PM10) is closely monitored and should not exceed 50 micrograms per cubic meter in the air, but according to legal regulations it may not exceed this limit a maximum of 35 times per year. The current air quality is measured using three key values: fine dust, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, with the possibility of viewing the data on maz-online.de to be retrieved continuously.

But how is air quality actually classified? There are clear limits that assess the health risks for the population. Air quality is considered “very poor” if the values ​​for nitrogen dioxide rise above 200 μg/m³, for fine dust above 100 μg/m³ and for ozone above 240 μg/m³. The condition is “poor” with values ​​between 101-200 μg/m³ for nitrogen dioxide, 51-100 μg/m³ for particulate matter and 181-240 μg/m³ for ozone. With “moderate” air quality, the values ​​are up to 100 μg/m³ for nitrogen dioxide and 50 μg/m³ for fine dust. When air quality is “good” or even “very good,” it is safe for people to move and engage in outdoor activities.

The consequences of air pollution

The health effects of air pollution should not be underestimated. In the EU alone, up to 239,000 people died in 2022 as a result of fine dust and ozone pollution, which could have been avoided by not complying with the health recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). These state that sensitive people should avoid physical exertion outdoors if the air quality is very poor, while strenuous activities should be limited if the air quality is poor. Only when the air quality is good or very good is it possible to be outside without worries, according to eea.europa.eu.

The New Year's Eve fireworks play a particularly critical role: the fireworks released release around 1,500 tons of fine dust, which corresponds to around 75 percent of the annual pollution. Even if this focus is on night activities, the health risk posed by invisible dust particles should not be underestimated.

Current measurements and outlook

The measurements take place every hour and the current data is usually published on the Luftdaten-Platform 20 minutes after the measurement. It is important to note that these are preliminary values ​​and have not yet been definitively validated. A final evaluation is only carried out through quality assurance procedures at the end of the year. This means you are always kept up to date on the development of air quality and can act accordingly.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen how the new EU air quality guidelines, in force since 2024 and aiming to bring air quality closer to WHO standards, will affect our well-being and the environment. The aim of these guidelines is to reduce air pollution by 55% by 2030 - an ambitious goal that we should keep in mind.