Air quality measurements in Wuppertal

Air quality in urban areas has been a key focus of environmental, health and urban development issues for years. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)* in particular is one of the key air pollutants, as it is primarily caused by traffic and has been shown to have adverse health effects. To ensure compliance with statutory limit values and to identify potential hotspots at an early stage, continuous and spatially differentiated monitoring of air pollution levels is required.

Background

* Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is an irritant gas that is harmful to health; it can penetrate deep into the lungs, has no known threshold for its effects, and contributes to the formation of ozone. To protect people and the environment, binding limit values apply in the EU, which in Germany are laid down in the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) and the 39th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV) (annual average 40 µg/m³, hourly average 200 µg/m³). With the ‘Green Deal’ and the Zero Pollutants Plan, the EU is pursuing the goal of better protecting the environment and public health and significantly improving air quality. The new Air Quality Directive (EU) 2024/2881 will introduce stricter limit values from 2030 onwards – particularly for nitrogen dioxide, for which the annual limit value will be halved. As early as 2026, checks will be carried out to see whether these limits can be met; air quality roadmaps must be drawn up if necessary. In the long term, the directive is based on the even stricter recommendations of the WHO and is set to be tightened further on a regular basis.