Fine dust alarm in Vienna: Why are real solutions missing

Fine dust alarm in Vienna: Why are real solutions missing

In the past few days, air quality in Vienna and in other cities such as Graz has reached worrying values that are above the recommended guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). Media report a so-called "fine dust alarm". The impression is often given that the weather is responsible for this high fine dust pollution. But the actual causes are far more complex and remain in the shade of the public debate.

Responsibility for the fine dust pollution cannot be attributed only to the weather. "The weather remains only an excuse," explains Christian Gratzer, an expert from the VCÖ traffic club. He emphasizes that the weather is only the fine dust particles, but does not cause their origin. The main source of pollutants are combustion processes that can be found in industry, room heating and traffic. PM2.5, a particularly dangerous fine dust, can penetrate the deepest areas of the lungs and have serious health consequences.

causes and measures

The health risks of fine dust are alarming. The smaller the particles, the greater the risk of getting into the bloodstream and causing health problems. The current recommendations are to avoid outdoor activities on days with high loads, keep the windows closed or, in the best case, to flee into the countryside. "We are waiting for a change in the weather instead of acting specifically," says Gratzer.

He also puts a proposal into the discussion: "We should introduce driving bans for the dirtiest vehicles or enforce speed limits in densely populated areas." But such measures would be politically controversial. The traffic exhaust gases contribute significantly to the high load. The situation is particularly dangerous for pedestrians, since they are often in a “exhaust gas cloud”.

Heinz Tizek from the MA22 environmental department confirms that a holistic approach is required. "It has to be used in all areas," he explains. Instead of looking for simple solutions, a long -term approach is necessary. "This is not a sprint, but a marathon," emphasizes Tizek.

Diversified measures such as promoting reduced private transport and the use of public transport means are required. The implementation of speed limits and longer green phases on pedestrian lights could already solve many problems. "The basic problem cannot be resolved with a small change in weather," says Gratzer.

Despite all the difficulties, there is a certain progress. The current fine dust pollution in Vienna is better than in the past, even if the limit values are often exceeded. The burden is often higher, especially in less privileged residential areas. Nevertheless, there are also positive aspects of the weather, which lets us breathe with less stress on days.

Nowadays the influence of the weather remains unmistakable. Tizek emphasizes that a high -pressure area over Central Europe is currently responsible for the increasing fine dust values. It is typical for this season. In the past, even low values of the pollutants were observed in the Lockdown times when traffic and industry were severely restricted, which shows that the weather is not the sole cause.

Overall, it is clear that in addition to ecological responsibility, the political and social dimension of this problem must not be ignored. More information on this topic can be found in an article on www.moment.at .