Ruhr area in SMOG: Alarm level one threatens health and the environment!

Ruhr area in SMOG: Alarm level one threatens health and the environment!

In January 1985, the Ruhr area experienced one of the most severe air pollution in the history of Germany, which led to the first proclamation of a smog alarm. These alarming events, in which over 770 µg/m³ sulfur dioxide and around 460 µg/m³ lifting dust were measured, led to immediate and drastic measures: schools were closed, driving bans were enacted and production in numerous factories was throttled. The alarm marked the beginning of intensive environmental awareness and political measures in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The acute danger to the health of the population was evident. According to the information from Land.nrw , the pollutant concentrations were partly over ten times over today's values. The then NRW Labor and Health Minister Friedhelm Farthmann (SPD) had already been cited before the official alarm value of 0.8 milligrams of sulfur dioxide per cubic meter, which was reported by WDR 2 at 9:45 a.m.

urgent measures and their effects

In the course of the SMOG alarm at level one, which represents the lowest level, all companies that contributed to air pollution were asked to hire their operation. Many cities, including Bottrop, Duisburg, Essen and Oberhausen, were affected, and the air was characterized by a ghostly, yellow fog, as environmental technician Ulrich Quass described. These first measures also included the request to the population to protect themselves from air pollution. People with breathing and heart problems in particular were advised not to stay outdoors for long.

the Smog alarm situation followed only two days later, on January 18, 1985, when the highest alarm level was proclaimed. This required further, stricter measures: a general driving ban for cars in cities such as Duisburg, Dortmund and Mülheim came into force. The power plants of the Ruhr area, which contributed significantly to the high pollutant emissions, were forced to install deflection systems.

long -term change in air quality

Today, 40 years after this event, a significant improvement in air quality in the Ruhr area can be looked back. Environmental and Transport Minister Oliver Krischer emphasizes that the continuous measures for air pollution control in North Rhine-Westphalia, supported by German environmental policies, have led to noticeable progress. The long-term measurement data of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV) show that the sulfur dioxide emissions of industry of 513,450 tons were reduced to a fraction of the previous values ​​in 1985.

Current preliminary measurement data show positive developments. For example, the nitrogen dioxide values ​​at 134 locations in North Rhine-Westphalia were in line with the statutory limit values. The continuous measurements of the air quality have also shown that the annual average limit values ​​for fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5) were observed in 2024. Even if the limit values ​​were exceeded at one point in Essen, the general trend is clearly positive.

The ongoing climate efforts and the upcoming EU air quality guidelines, which will be grown more strictly from 2030, underline the need to further reduce air pollution. Minister Krischer emphasizes that this requires a common effort in which the state government works with municipalities and other relevant actors to continue to improve air quality and to promote emission -free developments.

Despite the progress, the topic of air quality remains relevant. The past decades have shown that air pollution must not only be tackled locally but also internationally. The challenges that continue to exist due to air pollutants such as ozone and fine dust should not be underestimated. In Europe, around 21,400 premature deaths are due to Ozon annually, which illustrates how important sustainable measures are.