Abstract
A fierce debate about the health effects of air pollution erupted in the German media early this year. The scientific evidence that links ambient air pollution—in particular, fine particles (PM2.5; particles smaller than 2·5 μm) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)—to disease and mortality1,2 was questioned by a small group of lung physicians and engineers. They called to lift the limit values of ambient particulate matter and NO2 concentrations in Europe, claiming scarcity of evidence for such limits.3 Their claims—broadly covered by German mainstream media and social media—were welcomed by some politicians, industry organisations, and members of the general public.
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