Air pollution in Germany: Time for new limit values?

In 2022, the limit values for particulate matter and nitrogen oxide were complied with almost everywhere. Only at two measuring stations close to traffic in Munich and in Essen, for example, were the levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide often in the critical range. With the exception of a few cases where the pollutant level briefly reaches high peaks - such as in Mainz and Offenbach in the last few days - the air pollution situation therefore appears at first glance to be relatively well under control. However, in many cases this is only a first impression - or even a false conclusion based on current unreliable limit values. 

The Federal Environment Agency's air quality report for 2022, which has now been published, in fact shows that "health-critical pollution of the air we breathe with particulate matter and the diesel exhaust gas poison nitrogen dioxide" could be detected in all German cities. At the same time, 99.5% of all measuring stations have particulate matter values (PM2.5) above the limit value recommendations set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In the case of nitrogen dioxide, on the other hand, about three quarters of the measuring stations found limit values exceeded - primarily in urban areas, but also in rural areas the problem of air pollution cannot be underestimated. Even in rural regions, air pollution levels are well above the limit recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for health protection. 

In the final analysis, it is a question of perspective. How the air pollution level is perceived also depends on the currently valid pollutant limits. Even if the threshold currently in force in Germany is not exceeded, compliance with it does not automatically mean that the air quality is good and the health hazard simply no longer exists.  On the contrary, the levels of the various pollutants in the air are still demonstrably harmful to health. According to the European Environment Agency, there are around 28,900 premature deaths due to fine dust pollution and 10,000 premature deaths due to nitrogen dioxide air pollution across Germany. 

Cities and politicians - explains Dirk Messner, President of the Federal Environment Agency - can no longer rely on limit values that were defined more than 20 years ago. Rather, Germany and the European Union should introduce stricter standards and follow the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO). These, in fact, provide a much more realistic picture of the environmental and climate situation, as well as the necessary interventions, since they are based on today's scientific knowledge about the health effects of air pollution. Compared to the current measurement system, WHO limit value recommendations are exceeded across the board. 

This is precisely why the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) are once again calling on the German government to intervene at national and European level - and to adjust the limit values to the threshold recommended by the World Health Organisation as quickly as possible. This is the only way to reduce the health impacts of air pollution caused by the transport and agricultural sectors, among others. However, numerous measures are necessary to make such a reduction in air pollution levels possible at all. The upcoming EU emission standard Euro7 is just one example of this, as well as a starting point for stricter emission regulations. Many other initiatives could significantly reduce climate impacts. Among them are certainly environmental zones. Although these are being abolished in some cities due to a relative improvement in air quality, this is ultimately a premature decision. Instead, they should be tightened and introduced more frequently. Not only in inner cities or through diesel driving bans on individual roads, but across the board. 

Other countries like France or the Netherlands are already thinking much further ahead and are already planning complete bans on internal combustion vehicles for the near future. Will Germany finally roll up its sleeves to reduce pollution? That remains to be seen.