Air quality in Rostock: Fine dust levels reach critical limits!

Air quality in Rostock: Fine dust levels reach critical limits!

A fresh look at the air quality in Rostock makes your blood run cold. OnDecember 25, 2025An analysis of the measuring station at Holbein-Platz revealed alarming values ​​for fine dust pollution. While the normal range for fine dust particles is a maximum of 50 µg/m³, a whopping amount was found here88 µg/m³recorded. This simply means: The air quality falls short of the lower end of the “bad” range, as Ostsee-Zeitung reported. The Federal Environment Agency also warns that risk groups should avoid physical exertion outdoors.

What does this mean for Rostock residents? The air quality index (LQI), which measures the acid levels in the air, is currently in the red zone: “poor”. This means increased health risk for everyone, but especially for people with respiratory diseases. Particular attention is paid here to fine dust particles in the PM10 category, which are considered particularly harmful to health. According to News.de, such pollutants can cause serious respiratory diseases. Anyone who thinks that a walk in the fresh air is a good idea could quickly be mistaken.

Health effects

Air pollutants such as fine dust and nitrogen dioxide can cause acute and chronic health problems. This ranges from respiratory problems to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and reduced lung volume, especially in children. The LanuK highlights that an increase in the fine dust concentration of 10 µg/m³ can increase the risk of death by up to 8%.

This becomes particularly clear when you look at the EU statistics, which come out around240,000 premature deathsdue to fine dust pollution. This particularly affects people who live in urban areas. So if you're sensitive here, it's better to avoid putting any strain on your shoulders and lungs outdoors.

This is how we react correctly!

What to do when the air quality is so bad? If your LQI is in the red zone, you should pay attention to your own health. Recommendations include:

• Sehr schlecht: Empfindliche Personen sollten körperliche Anstrengungen im Freien vermeiden.
• Schlecht: Anstrengende Tätigkeiten im Freien sind zu vermeiden.
• Mäßig: Kurzfristige gesundheitliche Auswirkungen sind unwahrscheinlich, jedoch sollten empfindliche Personen vorsichtig sein.
• Gut: Keine nachteiligen Wirkungen sind zu erwarten.
• Sehr gut: Beste Voraussetzungen für Aktivitäten im Freien.

It makes sense to be aware of this problem, especially at the turn of the year, when fireworks release several tons of fine dust. During approx.2050 tonsIf fine dust is released on New Year's Eve, 75% of the fine dust pollution is generated during that night. That speaks volumes about the air quality at the turn of the year!

A healthy life can depend on air quality. So it remains to be hoped that the values ​​will improve again soon and Rostock can “breathe deeply” again.