Air quality in Potsdam: fine dust values endanger health!

On January 9, 2025, current air quality data was recorded in Potsdam, especially with regard to fine dust pollution (PM10). According to the information from maz-online.de Air quality at a measuring station in the Potsdam center. The defined limit for PM10 is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air and may be exceeded a maximum of 35 times a year.

The air quality is evaluated using three values: fine dust, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The specified limit values are as follows:

• "very bad": nitrogen dioxide> 200 μg/m³, fine dust> 100 μg/m³, ozone> 240 μg/m³.
• "bad": nitrogen dioxide 101-200 μg/m³, fine dust 51-100 μg/m³, ozone 181-240 μg/m³.
• "moderate": nitrogen dioxide 41-100 μg/m³, fine dust 35-50 μg/m³, ozone 121-180 μg/m³.

The measurement takes place in the form of hour means for nitrogen dioxide and ozone as well as as an hourly gliding daily remedy for fine dust.

health recommendations and contributors

In the European Union, there are 240,000 premature deaths annually that are due to fine dust. In poor air quality, the following recommendations apply:

• "very bad": sensitive people should avoid physical exertion outdoors.
• "bad": sensitive people should avoid exhausting activities outdoors.
• "moderate": short -term health effects are unlikely, but possible effects must be observed in sensitive people.
• "good": no health -related effects can be expected.
• "very good": there are the best conditions for outdoor activities.

Although the New Year's fireworks cause fine dust, the contribution is not significant compared to year -round stress. On New Year's Eve, an estimated approximately 1,500 tons of fine dust are released, which corresponds to 75 % of the annual quantity. This fine dust is harmful to health and consists of tiny, invisible dust particles, whereby the weather conditions influence the spread of fine dust after New Year's Eve.

For those interested, air approval data updated is offered every hour, which are available about 20 minutes after the measurement. This data, as given on luftdaten.brandenburg.de , are temporarily validated by quality assurance. The annual report on air quality is published, whereby changes in the data are possible at any time.