Air quality in Göttingen: Red alert for fine dust and ozone!

Air quality in Göttingen: Red alert for fine dust and ozone!

What a beautiful summer day in Göttingen! But while many are enjoying the weather, the current air quality values ​​are casting a shadow on the joy. Like that Göttingen Tageblatt reported, deteriorated air quality was measured today, July 12, 2025, at the measuring station on Bürgerstrasse. The values ​​for fine dust particles – specifically PM10 – and other pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone are above the limit values. This not only creates an important issue in the city, but also raises health concerns.

The limits for air quality are clearly defined: PM10 may only exceed 50 micrograms per cubic meter 35 times per year, but air quality is regularly monitored based on the three main values ​​- particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3). Currently, the Air Quality Indices (AQI) map shows red areas, signaling critical conditions, as well News.de reported.

Health effects and recommendations

What does this mean specifically for the residents? Sensitive people should avoid physical exertion outdoors if the air quality is “poor”, while if the quality is “moderate” the risk of health effects is low, but caution is still advised. Given the current conditions, it could be particularly problematic for asthmatics and people with previous illnesses, such as this Federal Environment Agency turns out.

In the context of this problem, attention is also drawn to the health risks associated with increased levels of fine dust, ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Fine dust can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and cause inflammation and other serious health problems. Of particular concern are the ultrafine particles that can even enter the bloodstream.

Current measurements and future outlook

According to the latest measurements from Göttingen, PM10 levels are approaching the critical thresholds, and many measuring stations in the region have already exceeded the limit values ​​for fine dust. For example, high values ​​of up to 49 µg/m³ were recorded in the last three months. In comparison, the cleanest air levels were recorded in January 2025 at 1 µg/m³, which remains desirable for the city's residents as the summer months progress.

Overall, it can be said that the improvement in air quality in recent decades has not been completely sufficient to avoid all health risks. According to the WHO, an increase in pollutant concentrations of just 10 µg/m³ could increase the risk of death by 8% - a worrying fact given current figures.

So we can only hope that the city administration of Göttingen and the responsible authorities react quickly to these alarming measurements. Citizens are also asked to actively contribute to improving air quality and protecting themselves. After all, we live in a city where air quality is not only a question of well-being, but also of health.