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Air quality in Leipzig: Red alert today due to fine dust!
Find out on August 10th, 2025 how the air quality in Northern Saxony is assessed and what health risks exist.
Air quality in Leipzig: Red alert today due to fine dust!
Today, August 10, 2025, Leipzig is showing its challenging side when it comes to air quality. At the measuring station in Leipzig-Mitte, fine dust (PM10) is recorded per cubic meter of air - an important indicator for the health of citizens. The limit value for PM10 is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, which may be exceeded up to 35 times per year. Current analyzes make it clear how harmful the air can be today, especially for sensitive groups in the population.
Air quality is not only measured based on fine dust, but also includes ozone and nitrogen dioxide. In order to understand the health risks, we need to know the limit values: If the fine dust concentration exceeds 100 µg/m³, the air is classified as “very bad”. Values between 51 and 100 µg/m³ indicate a “poor” situation, while 35 to 50 µg/m³ is considered “moderate”. Anything below 35 µg/m³ counts as “good” conditions, which offer ideal conditions for outdoor activities. As the LVZ reports, on days like today it is advisable that sensitive people in particular avoid physical exertion outdoors.
About the health risks of air pollution
The explosive situation should not be underestimated. In the EU, it is estimated that 240,000 people die prematurely every year due to particulate matter. A baseline report from the EEA highlights that fine dust, ozone and nitrogen dioxide can have significant health effects. Long-term exposure can greatly increase the risk of respiratory disease, heart disease and other serious health problems.
Particularly during inverse weather patterns, particulate matter pollution in urban areas can remain high for hours. During such times, staying indoors is recommended to minimize the risk of health problems. Festive events such as New Year's Eve also bring with them high levels of particulate matter in the short term, but this can quickly subside thanks to favorable weather conditions.
Political and social measures
Solutions are already being worked on at the political level. The EU aims to reduce deaths from air pollution by 55% by 2030. Recent measures include new air quality regulations that are strictly aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. But despite efforts, air pollution remains one of the biggest environmental health risks in Europe.
A look at the numbers shows: In 2022, at least 239,000 people in the EU died due to high levels of particulate matter that were above the WHO guidelines. If these guidelines had been strictly adhered to, many of these losses could have been prevented. The health threat posed by air pollution therefore remains a current challenge that must be addressed wisely. The NAG provides information about the dangers that the air poses today.
Given this alarming situation, it is necessary that both citizens and politicians recognize the urgency and act. Together we can ensure that our air becomes cleaner again and the quality of life in cities like Leipzig increases.