The private fireworks for the new year in the criticism. The German environmental aid has been mobilised for the prohibition of zones – with some success.

fine dust low-hi for the new year: Sparklers instead of fireworks on the beach of the Baltic sea on the island of Rügen-photo: Reuters

BERLIN taz | The most vivid, sparkling richest and ungesündeste night of the year is imminent. Around 4,200 tons of fine dust-pop the people in Germany on new year's eve, according to the Federal Environmental Agency, into the air. The are 2 percent of the total volume of fine dust, which is released over the whole year of traffic, energy and industry. Otherwise, new year's eve is not safe: a year Ago, the Berlin fire brigade had to delete 444 fires; 488 wounded treated in the hospitals in Germany, such as the journal of The Ophthalmologist reported. Although Figures such as these are known for a Long time, seemed to be the Ritual of private fireworks in Germany is unassailable. But the Lobby for new year's eve without fireworks is growing.

a Leader is the German environmental aid (DUH) is. "There are so many reasons for a nationwide ban on private fireworks on new year's eve talk," said Barbara Metz, Deputy managing Director of the DUH: injuries, fires, panicky animals, and, not least, the air pollution, the DUH as an environmentally focused organization. "The air is not so full of pollutants that asthma sufferers*can be indoor or families with small children in the inner cities on the road."

In the summer and autumn, applied for the DUH, in 98 cities and zones set up on new year's eve. All of these municipalities exceeded in the year 2018, the limit for particulate matter of 20 micrograms per cubic meter in the annual average. This is the value of the world health organization recommends to reduce the health risk. In the case of the ignition of the black powder similar to the ones in the combustion many substances, fine particles smaller than 2.5 micro-meters. "Fine particles are particularly harmful because they penetrate deep into the lungs and even the brain store," says Metz.

36 municipalities were positive to the thrust of the DUH, 23 of them have already decided to ban zones in inner cities, 13 of them want to follow suit in the next year. There are restrictions already in Aachen, Cologne and Stuttgart, and since this year also in Berlin. Among other things, on the Alexanderplatz and at the Brandenburg gate no fireworks may be ignited more. Even if these are only small limitations, the DUH satisfied. "Fine dust from firecrackers and rockets developed locally and close to the ground. If in the inner cities, a prohibition zone will be set up, are the places where all the people together to celebrate,“ says Metz.

Critical of the DUH looks, the fire protection regulation, which makes it difficult for local authorities, the prohibition of zones to be shown. Because either there has to be a special risk situation – such as attacks on police and forces in Berlin, or the development must be at risk. Environmental protection is no reason for a firecracker ban. Federal interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) wants to remove these restrictions, but only in two years. "Why does it take so long to change this one sentence, we can not understand," said Metz.

Also, traders are increasingly responsible. Individual branches of Rewe and Edeka announced that they would no firecrackers to offer. From next year, the Hornbach DIY chain, intends to cancel the sale. The feedback from the clients, were consistently positive, said a spokesman.

the new year's eve custom is suspect to many, highlights the results of a survey conducted by the opinion research Institute YouGov, 43% of respondents are in favour of a complete ban of fireworks on new year's eve. These people might feel on the island of Sylt On the entire island of bangers for the protection of the houses are banned, with a thatched roof, and has been since 1980.