The Federal Environment Agency warns that air quality is "extremely deteriorating" almost across Germany. In the past few days, PM2.5 (fine particles) concentrations have exceeded 50 micrograms per cubic meter in many areas. Many places even exceeded 100 micrograms per cubic meter!
The Federal Environment Agency warns that the current air pollution may have a negative impact on human health. The agency recommends: "Sensitive people or people with respiratory diseases should avoid strenuous exercise outdoors."
The Federal Environment Agency said that for people with existing health problems, health discomfort may occur starting from the "medium" pollution level (yellow). When the air quality index reaches the "very poor" level, the agency recommends that all citizens take precautions. "A leisurely walk is better than jogging, which can reduce the inhalation of polluted air."
Ute Dauert, head of the air quality assessment department of the Federal Environment Agency, also said in an interview with "Time" that "jogging is not recommended these days" because the breathing rate increases during exercise, and more air containing fine particles and other pollutants will be inhaled.
Germany is currently facing the worst particle pollution alert in years. At the end of January, the Federal Environment Agency's particle map was all blue, indicating low levels of particulate matter, but the situation has changed since last weekend. On Monday (10th), large areas on the map turned red. On Wednesday and Thursday, most of Germany was at a red alert level due to high levels of particulate matter.
This makes people wonder, who is the culprit of this air pollution?
German media reported that there are many reasons for the current air pollution. On the one hand, more pollutants are now emitted into the air. Dolt explained that more families will burn wood in winter, and the catalytic converters of fuel cars will take longer to reach operating temperature in cold weather.
On the other hand, special meteorological conditions make it easier for pollutants to stay in place and cannot be blown away. The Federal Environment Agency said that in the current winter high-pressure weather conditions, air exchange is limited to a few hundred meters, with almost no wind and dryness; in this case, pollutants will be trapped in the lower layers of the atmosphere.
Meteorologist Dominik Jung described it as if there was an invisible bell over the city, not allowing pollutants to escape.
Urban centers such as Mannheim, Kaiserslautern and Berlin are said to be particularly polluted. According to the Federal Environment Agency, air quality in many parts of Germany is far above the limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter, and the air quality is classified as "very poor". And there are no signs of improvement yet.
But experts cautiously point out that weather conditions in Germany should change from the weekend. With more wind and rain, the concentration of particulate matter is expected to decrease. Until then, measures such as closing windows, avoiding strenuous outdoor exercise and, if possible, not driving can be taken.
Meteorologists say that in the long run, stricter emission standards, less traffic and cleaner heating methods must be adopted to avoid the particulate matter crisis. "The current situation shows: Germany has a serious air problem."
