Air quality 2014: Nitrogen dioxide now ranks as pollutant Nr. 1

different houses, covered with snow, with smoking chimneysClick to enlarge
Especially in the winter time the air can be contaminated with fine dust from chimneys and stoves
Source: Grzegorz Polak / Fotolia.com

Wood-fired heating systems emit more particulate matter locally than road traffic

The pollutants nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and ozone continued to threaten human health in Germany in 2014. These are the results of interim evaluations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) of measurements taken at over 500 measuring stations. Nitrogen dioxide, whose main source is motor vehicle exhaust emissions, is particularly critical and has evolved to become pollutant Nr. 1: the annual mean values measured at more than half of the measuring stations near roads with heavy traffic were once again above the limit value of 40 micrograms (µg) per cubic metre (m3). The levels of particulate matter measured in 2014 were among the lowest on record, but UBA President Maria Krautzberger nevertheless sees no reason to sound the all clear: "Despite low levels of particulate matter there is still a health risk. There is no action level for particulate matter – even the lowest concentrations can do damage to health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed this time and time again."

Luftqualität 2014: Auswertung der Feinstaubwerte
Source: Umweltbundesamt

Luftqualität 2014: Auswertung der Feinstaubwerte

Luftqualität 2014 - vorläufige Auswertung (Januar 2015)

<>
  1. Prozentualer Anteil der Messsationen mit Überschreitung des Grenzwertes
  2. Mittlere Anzahl von PM10-Überschreitungstagen (Tagemittelwerte > 50 mikrog/m3)
  3. Entwicklung der PM10-Jahresmittelwerte
  4. Entwicklung der NO2-Jahresmittelwerte
  5. Überschreitung des Grenzwertes für das NO2-Jahresmittel
  6. Ozonmessstationen mit Überschreitung bzw. Einhaltung des Zielwertes
  7. Überschreitung des Ozon-Alarmschwellenwertes von 240 mikrog/m3
  8. PM10-Emissionen in Deutschland
  9. Emissionsgrenzwerte für Staub nach der 1. BIMSchV
  10. Überschreitung der Feinstaubwerte PM10 im Jahr 2014
Share:
Article:
Printer-friendly version
Tags:
 Luftqualität  Stickstoffdioxid  Feinstaub  Luftdaten 2014