Air quality in Munich

How good is the air quality in Munich?

According to the city rankings, the air in Munich in 2019 could be described as "good" overall. However, with an average fine dust value PM2.5 of 10.6 µg/m³, air pollution in Munich was around 6% above the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guideline value of 10 µg/m³ for fine dust. In the two previous years, air quality values were only "moderate", with 13.6 µg/m³ in 2018 and 13.8 µg/m³ in 2017. February was the month when air quality in Munich was worst in 2019, with 14.3 µg/m³. However, Munich did enjoy six months of clean air when recorded figures were below the WHO guidelines of 10 µg/m³. This means that in 2019, Munich can report an improvement in air quality of over 20% compared to the two previous years.

The real-time map of air pollution in Munich can be viewed at the top of this page along with the air quality forecast for Munich.

How has air quality in Munich improved recently?

The air quality in Munich has improved a little over the years. The PM2.5 value has decreased since monitoring began in 2010. This long-term development can be observed from figures recorded at five air quality measuring stations in Munich. The largest decrease can be seen at the Landshuter Allee station, which is found in a very busy location. Since starting to keep records of the levels, the PM2.5 concentration here has decreased by 8.7 µg/m³. And another four stations have also recorded a decrease in fine dust (PM2.5) concentrations: Muggenhof by 4.6 µg/m³, Stachus by 3.8 µg/m³ and Lothstraße by 3.4 µg/m³. Only at the Johanneskirchen station did the fine dust particulate matter (PM2.5) drop by a mere 0.7 µg/m³ within a period of 7 years.

An improvement in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels can also be observed over the years. The measuring station that has recorded the greatest change over the years is Stachus in the Sonnenstraße, with a decrease in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) to 32 µg/m³ over the last ten years. The Landshuter Allee station also showed a large decrease in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) values too, with a reduction to 25 µg/m³. It should be noted, however, that these are the two stations in Munich with the highest initial values. The nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) values decreased by 5.2 µg/m³ at Lothstraße and by 5.4 µg/m³ at Johanneskirchen.

The proportion of carbon monoxide (CO) did not change much during the ten-year test period, as the CO concentration in Munich air was already at a very low level. Nevertheless, compared to the rest of Bavaria, with the exception of Augsburg, Munich had the largest decrease in CO values. This was measured at the Stachus station with a reduction of 0.22 mg/m³. The CO value at Landshuter Allee has improved by 0.17 mg/m3 over the last ten years.

What is the main cause of air pollution in Munich?

Most of the air pollution with fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides in Munich is due to road traffic. As in other major cities, traffic is the main cause of PM2.5 pollution in the air. Industry, which is normally in second place, contributes only 3% of the fine dust emissions in the state capital Munich. A large percentage of PM2.5 is emitted into the air by small-scale combustion in private households, i.e. by heating a stove or burning organic matter in the fireplace. However, since 2012, the city of Munich has always been able to comply with the Particulate Matter (PM) limits prescribed by the European Community (EU). In addition to particulate matter, the air is filled with many other pollutants that are released by the various emission sources. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) has an annual mean value limit of 40 µg/m³ and an hourly mean value limit of 200 µg/m³. Munich has also mainly been able to comply with these values for the hourly mean value since 2016. However, the annual mean value was not met in 2017 and 2018.

What purpose does the environmental zone have within the central area in Munich?

The environmental zone was introduced in many German cities to protect air quality. Munich introduced the environmental zone on 1^st October 2008. To be allowed to drive in the low emission zone, the vehicle must display an environmental badge. Over the years, the rules have been tightened to determine which sticker or badge is required to enter the zone. Since 2012 only vehicles with a green sticker can enter the low emission zone. Excluded from this are for example ambulances, vehicles belonging to doctors and diplomats and vehicles with special permits. A vehicle without an environmental sticker can be fined 80 euros in the low emission zone.

What contribution does Munich make towards improving air quality?

In order to reduce air pollution in Munich, a support program was developed. This consists of measures to reduce traffic and promote more environmentally friendly means of transport. In addition, the city wants to support local public transport in the long term by expanding the subway and tram lines. In order to support the bicycle traffic, the cycle path network will be expanded. The electric mobility will be strengthened not only by the expansion of the electric vehicles, but also by the electrification of the bus and cab fleet. The infrastructure for charging public transport as well as passenger cars will play an important role here. Traffic management, mobility sharing and pooling, parking space management and urban logistics are to play a decisive role in the coming years in reducing mileage-related emissions through this plan. Another important field of action is the proper marketing of these actions in order to encourage the population to change their current mode of transport.

What effect does Munich’s poor air quality have on health?

In humans, for example, sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and atomic oxygen act as irritant gases. They have a particularly detrimental effect on the respiratory tract and the lungs, carbon monoxide (CO) causes inflammation of the airways which prevents the absorption of much-needed oxygen to the blood. The respiratory tract is mainly affected by dust and the dust constituents lead and cadmium affect the blood count and function of the kidneys.