Air pollution demands thousands of life in Schleswig-Holstein every year!

A current evaluation of the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that air pollution in Germany has significant health effects. In 2022, a total of 69,865 people died in Germany from the consequences of fine dust and 28,464 due to nitrogen dioxide - an alarming balance that makes it clear how serious air pollutants are for public health.

In the same year, around 3,000 deaths from air pollution were registered in Schleswig-Holstein, as the NDR reported. In particular, the lethality of nitrogen dioxide emerges: 759 people lost their lives in Schleswig-Holstein due to these pollutants, with the highest number in the Pinneberg district registered with 104 deaths. Fine dust died 2,152 people, also the most in the Pinneberg district with 243 deaths, while the lowest number of 58 was recorded in Neumünster. These numbers reflect the results of long -term studies that demonstrate the connection between air pollutants and diseases.

persistent risks and claims

Despite improvements in air quality in the past decades, the current limit values ​​for air pollutants are not sufficient to completely avoid health risks. The German Environmental Aid (DUH) calls for an implementation of EU limit values ​​for air pollutants by 2028 at the latest and compliance with strict WHO requirements by 2035. In its 2021 updated "Air Quality Guidelines", the health risks of air pollutants have examined and illustrated.

The DUH also emphasizes that compliance with the WHO recommendations can not only be guaranteed, but a significant number of avoidable deaths could also be prevented. Just by compliance with the WHO limit values ​​would have made 32,628 deaths from fine dust and 9,442 by nitrogen dioxide in Germany, as the DUH summarizes.

The urgent appeals illustrate the need for action in the area of ​​air pollution control. In order to improve the German air quality noticeably and minimize health risks, a political implementation of the required measures is essential.