Saxony has been struggling with poor air quality for several days. At the weekend, particulate matter limits were exceeded at numerous measuring stations. On Saturday, the daily average values for PM10 in Bautzen, Görlitz, Leipzig, Liebschützberg and Niesky were above the limit value of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, according to data from the State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology.
The Federal Environment Agency also reported considerable problems for particulate matter with a particle size of up to 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5). According to an overview, the limit value of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air was far exceeded in many places in the Free State - for example in Zwickau, Leipzig, Dresden, Bautzen, Zittau and Görlitz. According to experts, the fine particles can penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract and cause lasting damage to the lungs.
DWD: Change in weather brings relief
The high-pressure weather conditions of the past few days have meant that the air can no longer rise unhindered and pollutants are concentrated in the lower layers of the air, the German Weather Service said on request. The particulate matter comes from exhaust fumes from heating and traffic, for example. According to the meteorologists, however, a remedy is in sight. A large area of precipitation is expected at the beginning of the week, bringing rain and snow. Not only would such pollutants then be washed out of the air, but the previous "atmospheric lid" would also disappear.
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