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Mainz (dpa / lrs) - In the Corona year 2020, the measuring points for air pollution in Rhineland-Palatinate have not registered excessive values for nitrogen dioxide for the first time since the introduction of the EU limit value.
“This is good news for people and the environment,” said Environment Minister Anne Spiegel (Greens) on Monday.
The air in Rhineland-Palatinate became significantly cleaner last year.
The annual mean values of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) remained below the EU limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter introduced in 2010 at all measuring points.
In addition to favorable weather conditions and the retrofitting of diesel vehicles, Spiegel also cited the corona lockdown from mid-March to the end of April as causes for the nationwide decline.
This has led to a significantly lower volume of traffic.
In 2019, excessive values were registered, especially at a measuring station in the center of Mainz.
At the measuring points in Mainz, compared to other cities in Rhineland-Palatinate, there was the greatest decrease in nitrogen oxide levels, said the President of the State Office for the Environment, Sabine Riewenherm.
The values would continue to be monitored continuously.
Minister Spiegel mentioned improvements in local public transport, the expansion of bicycle traffic and the retrofitting of old diesel vehicles as ways of containing nitrogen oxides.