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Last changed: 01/12/2009
Air pollution has decreased significantly since the 1990s. Since the beginning of this decade, there is no clear signal of a similar trend in pollution by particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone in Germany, despite a continuous decline in emissions. Air quality varies to a more or less great degree from one year to the next. Average immissions levels in Germany show a steady drop in particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) away from congested urban areas towards the countryside. Highest levels occur near their source, in conurbations and near towns with heavy traffic. The situation is different as concerns ozone: the source of the highest levels of pollution are caused by chemical reactions of ozone precursors nitrogen oxides and volatile hydrocarbons which, with few exceptions, are outside of urban areas at some distance from their sources.
The Federal Environment Agency has investigated the development of air pollution by particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and ozone as it relates to trends in pollutant emissions— the latter of which have declined steadily in many industries. A background information document illustrates this development and explains how it relates to changes in pollutant emissions.