Bad air quality in Hamburg: Maximum values for nitrogen dioxide reached!

On March 21, 2025, the Hamburg Stresemannstraße measurement station reports poor air quality with alarming values for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). The maximum value for NO₂ is 114 µg/m³, which is above the limit. The limit for a harmless air quality is between 0 and 100 µg/m³. The air quality index (LQI) is therefore in the red area, which indicates unhealthy air conditions. The Federal Environment Agency has therefore recommended that people to minimize their exertion outdoors to risk groups.

The Hamburg Stresemannstrasse station is strongly affected by human sources of pollutants, especially traffic and industry. Nitrogen dioxide is a caustic irritation gas that can cause respiratory problems. In the past three months, the highest one-hour maxima for NO₂ have been registered in several districts of Hamburg. Particularly high values were recorded on March 7, 2025 on Kieler Strasse (124 µg/m³) and in the Habichtstrasse (123 µg/m³), both of which fall into the danger level 🟠. Values of up to 121 µg/m³ were also measured at other locations such as Altona Elbhang and Stresemannstrasse. In contrast, the cleanest air quality in Hamburg Neugraben was documented on December 22, 2024 with only 4 µg/m³.

other air quality data

In addition to the specific measurements in Hamburg, the platform of the European project Copernicus provides information about the Europe -wide prediction of the pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5. These predictions are based on data from seven European model systems. The European Environment Agency (EEA) creates an air quality index from current data and provides it for both Android and iOS via an app. Europe -wide measurement data on air quality are published by the EEA, and the ZAMG calculates the Europe -wide burden by PM10 and ozone. The World Health Organization (WHO) also collects comprehensive data on global air quality that is evaluated by various facilities such as the Health Effects Institute (Hei).