It's a morning like many others in Bremen's Überseestadt district. The sky above the quays slowly brightens as the first containers slide off the ships. A fine, almost invisible veil settles over the streets – not as fog, but as a mixture of diesel particles, sulfur oxides, and soot. No one really sees it. But the lungs of the people who live, work, and take their children to school here feel it every day. Bremen, a Hanseatic city with a maritime soul, is also one of the cities in Germany most heavily burdened by ship emissions. While elsewhere driving bans and environmental zones are being debated, one source of air pollution often remains in the shadows: deep-sea logistics. But the price our respiratory systems pay is real – and it is paid anew every day.
The invisible cargo: What container ships really bring to Bremen
When a large container ship enters the port of Bremen, it doesn't just bring goods from the Far East, electronics, textiles, or machinery. It also brings with it a cloud composed of heavy fuel oil, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Heavy fuel oil—that viscous, almost tar-like fuel that's standard on the high seas—burns dirty. What's produced is a mixture of ultrafine particles that can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract and cause damage that's far beyond the effectiveness of cough drops and tissues.
Ships are mobile industrial plants. A single large container ship emits as much sulfur during an Atlantic crossing as several million cars. And as soon as the engines start running again in port – for example, to power the ship's electrical systems or for charging and cooling systems – the air above the quays becomes a cocktail that no one would willingly breathe. But that's exactly what's happening: in Woltmershausen, in Überseestadt, in Gröpelingen. There, where residential areas border directly on port logistics.
Heavy fuel oil and particulate matter: A toxic alliance
Heavy fuel oil is cheap, dirty, and still permitted – at least on the open sea. Stricter sulfur limits have only been in place in European coastal waters for a few years. But even with these regulations, emissions remain enormous. The soot produced during combustion is not only black and visible, it is also extremely fine. Ultrafine particles, smaller than 2.5 micrometers, can penetrate deep into the alveoli of the lungs, cross the blood-air barrier, and trigger inflammation that extends far beyond the respiratory tract.
Studies from port cities like Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Antwerp clearly show that people living near ports have an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Children, whose lungs are still developing, often bear the greatest burden. Their bronchi are more sensitive, and their defense mechanisms are not yet fully mature. Years of exposure to elevated levels of pollutants can leave lasting effects.
The Port of Bremen: A logistics hub with side effects
Bremen is more than just culture and brick architecture, the old town and the Weser River. Bremen is also a central logistics hub in northwestern Europe. Over 70 million tons of goods are handled here annually – and that figure is rising. This brings jobs, prosperity, and economic stability. But it also brings emissions. Not only from the ships themselves, but also from the trucks that come and go every minute, from the diesel-powered cranes, and from the forklifts that shuttle between the containers.
Officially, Bremen's air quality is often rated as good – on paper. But the measurements are usually taken at locations further away from traffic. Those who live directly on the Weser River or near the port experience a different reality. Here, the air sometimes smells of heavy oil, and in summer, a diffuse haze hangs over the streets. And here, parents ask themselves: Is this harmful to my child?
Between the economy and health: A conflict that breathes
The port and logistics sector is indispensable for Bremen. It secures thousands of jobs, supports the regional economy, and makes the city a key player in European freight transport. But this economic power comes at a price – and it's not paid at the checkout, but with one's health. It's a silent price, not immediately apparent. It accumulates over years: in doctor's visits, sick days, and medications that become routine.
Health consequences: When the lungs become a construction site
The World Health Organization has declared air pollution one of the greatest global health risks. Fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides in particular—precisely those substances released in large quantities by shipping—are suspected of contributing to cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses. The mucous membranes of the respiratory tract become inflamed, the bronchi constrict, and lung function declines. Asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis are all diagnoses that are statistically more common in port cities than in the surrounding rural areas.
Children , the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions are particularly at risk. Their airways are more vulnerable, and their ability to regenerate is lower. But even healthy adults are not immune. Those exposed to elevated levels of pollutants over many years risk their lungs losing elasticity, inflammation becoming chronic, and breathing eventually becoming a struggle.
Silent inflammation: The invisible war in the body
What many don't know: Air pollutants don't just cause local irritation. They can trigger silent, chronic inflammatory processes throughout the entire body. The tiny particles from ship exhaust enter the bloodstream, activate the immune system, and promote oxidative stress. The result: an increased risk of arteriosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. The lungs aren't the only organ affected—the cardiovascular system also bears the burden.
Research from Scandinavia and the Netherlands shows that people living near ports exhibit measurably increased inflammatory activity in their blood. Their bodies are in a kind of constant state of alert, without them consciously realizing it. The fatigue, susceptibility to infections, and vague symptoms – all of these can be part of this silent conflict.
What needs to change – and what is already changing
Bremen isn't standing still. There are initiatives, funding programs, and political declarations of intent to reduce emissions in the port. Shore power for ships, alternative propulsion systems, stricter regulations for heavy fuel oil – all these are steps in the right direction. But implementation is sluggish, the interests are complex, and the costs are high. And while the discussions continue, people keep breathing.
Shore power: When ships no longer have to smoke
One of the most promising measures is the expansion of shore power facilities. When ships are in port and their engines continue running simply to generate electricity on board, unnecessary emissions are produced. Shore power makes it possible to connect ships directly to the power grid – ideally with energy from renewable sources. This reduces not only air pollution but also noise pollution.
Bremen already has some shore power facilities, but their capacity is far from sufficient. Many shipping companies are hesitant to retrofit their vessels because the costs are high and there are still no uniform international standards. As long as shore power is more expensive than heavy fuel oil, the incentive remains low. What's needed here is political pressure, financial incentives, and above all: time. Time that the lungs of local residents simply don't have.
Environmental zones and emission controls: The long road to clean air
While environmental zones and diesel bans have long been in place for road traffic, shipping remains largely unaffected. Stricter sulfur limits have only been in effect worldwide since 2020, but enforcement is infrequent and sanctions are lenient. A uniform, consistent monitoring system is lacking. Ships change their flag and switch to cheaper fuels as soon as they reach international waters.
Bremen could take a pioneering role here – for example, by imposing stricter port fees on particularly polluting ships or introducing bonus systems for environmentally friendly freighters. However, such measures require political courage and a willingness to accept short-term economic disadvantages. It's a difficult balancing act between the economy and public health.
The lungs as an early warning system: Why we should listen to our bodies
The body doesn't lie. When the air is bad, we notice it – often before any measuring devices indicate it. A scratchy throat, a persistent cough, a feeling of tightness in the chest. These aren't imaginary sensations, but signals. Our respiratory system is a sensitive indicator of the quality of the environment in which we live. Those who ignore these signals risk an irritation developing into inflammation, and inflammation into a chronic condition.
Respiratory health as a preventive measure
Prevention doesn't begin at the doctor's office. It begins in everyday life – with the decisions we make about where we live, how we ventilate our homes, and how we support our bodies. Those who live in polluted environments often can't eliminate the source of the pollutants. But they can strengthen, care for, and relieve their respiratory system. Regular exercise, breathing exercises, and walks in areas with lower levels of pollution – all of these help maintain lung function.
The conscious design of living spaces also plays a role. Air purifiers can help filter out coarse particles. Plants improve the indoor climate. And: Regular ventilation – ideally at times when the outside air is less polluted, such as early morning or at night. Small measures that often go unnoticed in everyday life, but can make a difference in total.
The power of small rituals: Salty air as relief
For centuries, people have harnessed the healing power of salty air. In North Sea spas, saltworks, and salt caves, the air is enriched with fine salt particles. These have an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and soothing effect on the mucous membranes. What once required a multi-day treatment can now be easily replicated at home. It's not a miracle cure, nor a solution to structural environmental problems. But it can be a building block – a ritual that provides relief for the respiratory system, especially during periods of increased stress.
Anyone who opens their window in the morning and smells the harbor, or who comes home in the evening with a scratchy throat, often looks for ways to support their lungs. Salt isn't a cure-all, but it can be a helpful aid. It helps loosen mucus, moisturize the airways, and promote the lungs' natural self-cleaning process. Studies in respiratory medicine show that regular inhalations with saline solutions can be beneficial for chronic respiratory illnesses – as a complementary measure, not a replacement for medical treatment.
A forward-looking perspective
Bremen will change. Logistics will have to become greener, shipping cleaner, and politics bolder. But until then, it is also up to each individual to take care of their own health, to take their body's signals seriously, and to take action – in small ways and in big ways. Because the air we breathe is not something to be taken for granted. It is a resource worth fighting for.
The Hanseatic city has the potential to be a role model. A city that doesn't pit the economy and health against each other, but considers them together. A city that modernizes its port without forgetting its residents. A city where breathing becomes easier again – both literally and figuratively.
Anyone living in Bremen today carries the burden of global logistics on their shoulders – or rather, in their lungs. But they also carry the opportunity to be part of the solution. Through awareness, through commitment, through small everyday decisions. And sometimes through a ritual as simple as a deep breath – accompanied by salty air that reminds us: breathing is life. And clean air is a right.
Note: For people living in polluted environments who want to support their respiratory health in everyday life, the mini saltworks can be a helpful supplement – a small graduation tower for home use that enriches the room air with fine salt particles. It does not replace medical treatment, but can contribute to a conscious approach to one's own respiratory health.
(Image source: Envato)
