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Air quality alarm in Potsdam: How dirty is the air today?
On September 12th, 2025, measuring stations will report on the current air quality in Potsdam, focusing on fine dust and pollutants.
Air quality alarm in Potsdam: How dirty is the air today?
In the center of Potsdam, the air quality is being closely examined. On September 12, 2025, thanks to the constantly updated data from the measuring stations, we will be able to find out what the air we breathe is doing. A big focus here is on fine dust (PM10), the limit of which is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This value may not be exceeded more than 35 times per year, as maz-online.de reports.
But how is air quality actually measured? It is based on three central values: fine dust, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. There are different limit values, ranging from “very bad” to “very good”. Values above 200 μg/m³ for nitrogen dioxide are particularly alarming and immediately raise alarm bells. Of course, the recommendations for the population with different air qualities are also important. In the “very poor” category, it is recommended to avoid physical exertion outdoors.
Current measurements and health risks
The measured values are updated every hour and are accessible to citizens. Around 20 minutes after the measurement you can poke your nose into the maintained data, even though it is provisional and not suitable for further processing, as the platform luftdaten.brandenburg.de makes clear. It is emphasized that changes are possible at any time and the final results will then be published in the annual air quality report.
The number of premature deaths in Europe caused by air pollution is impressive. It is estimated that in 2022 there were 239,000 deaths in the EU due to particulate matter, 70,000 from ozone and 48,000 as a result of nitrogen dioxide, according to eea.europa.eu. This once again illustrates how critical the situation is with regard to our air quality.
A look into the future
On the positive side, between 2005 and 2022, the number of deaths due to particulate matter was reduced by 45%. The EU has also set itself the goal of reducing particulate matter pollution by 55% by 2030. New air quality regulations have been in effect since September 12th, which are closer to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. However, despite these advances, air pollution remains the biggest environmental health risk in Europe.
We can all do our part to improve our air quality. By informing ourselves about current values and adapting our behavior, such as our choice of transportation or consumer behavior, we have the potential to keep the air clean for future generations. Because one thing is clear: the health of our environment and that of people are closely linked.