Air quality in Göttingen: Alarmingly high levels of fine dust discovered!

Air quality in Göttingen: Alarmingly high levels of fine dust discovered!

The air quality in Göttingen is currently being closely monitored, as the current measuring station on Bürgerstrasse shows. The values ​​for fine dust, nitrogen dioxide and ozone were recorded on July 8, 2025. The station primarily measures the fine dust particle size up to PM10 per cubic meter of air. The limit value for fine dust is 50 micrograms per cubic meter, which may not be exceeded more than 35 times a year. These important limits are crucial for the health of the population.

Air quality is assessed based on three key data: fine dust, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The limit values ​​are clearly defined: values ​​over 200 μg/m³ for nitrogen dioxide, over 100 μg/m³ for fine dust or over 240 μg/m³ for ozone are classified as “very poor”. In such cases, sensitive people are advised to avoid physical exertion outdoors. Göttinger Tageblatt reports.

Current air quality situation

The current level of fine dust pollution in Germany is alarmingly high. Several measuring stations are already showing an increased range of values. The Federal Environment Agency warns that road traffic and industrial exhaust fumes are significant sources of fine dust emissions. The winter high-pressure weather conditions in particular promote the accumulation of pollutants in the air, which can also be observed during these days. These conditions mean that many sensitive people, such as asthmatics and children, may suffer from respiratory irritation. One can say that the easterly wind, which brings polluted air from eastern Central Europe, does not exactly improve the situation , as the Tagesschau states.

Another problem is that there is a huge increase in fine dust levels on New Year's Eve. Around 1,500 tons of fine dust are released, which accounts for 75% of the annual amount. This fine dust, which results from fireworks, among other things, is a health hazard and contains indistinct, tiny particles that can often have serious health consequences. Compared to year-round emissions, the contribution of the New Year's Eve fireworks is just a drop in the ocean.

Fine dust emissions in Germany

One piece of positive news, however, is that particulate matter emissions in Germany have fallen significantly since 1995. PM10 emissions fell to 0.18 million tons in 2022, a decrease of 45.4% compared to 1995. These successes are certainly due to the stricter environmental regulations and technical progress, which the Federal Environment Agency also confirms. Nevertheless, in the same year, 41.1% of PM10 emissions came from production processes and 37.2% from combustion processes such as transport. The Federal Environment Agency provides detailed insights into this.

Finally, we can only hope that the weather situation will ease soon so that the air quality in cities like Göttingen can breathe a sigh of relief again. Until then, particularly sensitive people should take good care of themselves and avoid physical exertion outdoors if the values ​​are particularly high. Cumulus clouds could soon cool down the weather radar a bit!