Lünenburg's air quality on August 12, 2025: Alarming fine dust levels!

Lünenburg's air quality on August 12, 2025: Alarming fine dust levels!

Air quality became an issue in Lüneburg on August 12, 2025. Important data on fine dust particles (PM10) is regularly recorded at the measuring station on Zeppelinstrasse. The limit value for these particles is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air - this value can be exceeded up to 35 times every year. Fine dust, nitrogen dioxide and ozone are the three central values ​​used for the evaluation, reports State newspaper.

The limits for air quality are clearly defined. When air quality is very poor, nitrogen dioxide levels rise above 200 µg/m³, while fine dust exceeds 100 µg/m³ and ozone exceeds the 240 µg/m³ mark. The classification into the categories “poor”, “moderate”, “good” and “very good” is also important for assessing the health risks. For example, it is recommended that sensitive people avoid physical exertion outdoors when the air is heavily polluted. With moderate air quality, short-term health effects are usually unlikely, but sensitive people should still exercise caution.

WHO recommendations

The latest WHO air quality guidelines are based on extensive scientific evidence and are aimed at protecting the health of the population. These recommendations, which are under the Federal Environment Agency published relate not only to particulate matter, but also to nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

The updated guidelines note that there is no “safe threshold” for air pollution. This clearly shows that even small amounts of pollutants can pose health risks. Over the last three decades, countries with strict air quality policies have achieved significant improvements in air quality. Both technological advances and e-mobility play a crucial role here.

The challenge of air quality

Also important is the fact that air pollution is a complex mixture of different pollutants that are not always regulated. The WHO emphasizes the need for poorer countries not to be burdened with environmentally harmful technologies given global inequalities. The new guidelines represent a challenge as many EU countries need to implement the scientific findings in their air quality standards in order not to fall behind in international competition.

Another problem is the burden on health: according to the EU, air pollution leads to 240,000 premature deaths every year. In view of these alarming figures, it is clear that both politics and society are called upon to take action. The exchange of knowledge and cooperation with scientific institutions are therefore essential in order to derive measures that counteract further deterioration in air quality.

In summary, it should be noted that air quality in Lüneburg and nationwide continues to be an important topic of great relevance. The constant efforts to improve and the strict recommendations of the WHO and other institutions can help protect the health of the population in the long term.