FRANCE: Paris on high pollution alert as cold weather, low winds prevent the dispersion of toxic emissions

Record ID: 217042

  • Title: FRANCE: Paris on high pollution alert as cold weather, low winds prevent the dispersion of toxic emissions
  • Date: 13th December 2013
  • Summary: COMPUTER SCREEN SHOWING POLLUTION LEVELS ON CURBS
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABIXHG0WWJZ8MBPWYQSNV2TGQ7
  • Story Text: High atmospheric pressure, cold weather and low winds have put Paris on an air-pollution alert for almost a week, creating the most severe smog in the French capital since 2007, the city's air quality monitoring body said on Friday (December 13).
    The pollution index has reached the highest level on the measure used by Airparif, due to fine particles (PM10) which have risen over the alert level of 80 micrograms per cubic metre, posing a potential health risk.
    "We are now at the fifth day over the Paris region of a pollution alert, due to particles, fine particles, the phenomenon is quite long and has not happened since 2007, in the same conditions by the way. These conditions are due to the high pressure, high atmospheric pressure and inversion systems which block the pollution which is generated in the Paris region by traffic and central heating," Managing Director of Airparif Jerome Clave said.
    The fine PM10 particles which pose a particular health risk are produced by industrial activity and by road traffic.
    In view of this, Parisian authorities have advised motorists to limit their speed on the city's main routes, with the limit dropping from 80 km/h to 70 along the congested ring road.
    "The sun is shining, and it looks pretty nice over Paris but unfortunately what is not seen are these particles, they can't be seen because they are very, very small as a matter of fact and that is the danger of these particles. Because they are very small, they go very deeply into your respiratory system, your lungs, and that's the major problem from a health perspective," Clave added.
    He said that by avoiding exercise, people could limit their exposure to the dangerous particles.
    Asked about the alert, Parisian passers-by said they were worried.
    "I'm allergic so as soon as there is pollution, my eyes sting and my nose runs. I have a car but it stays in its car park, and in Paris I use public transport," passer-by Jean-Pierre said.
    "I think that in Paris if everyone could use their bike, it would be much better," cyclist David said.
    In the capital, some tourists had purchased anti-pollution masks.
    Generated by industry, transport and car gas (diesel), the particles can cause asthma, allergies and cardiovascular disease.
    The finest of them which penetrate the deepest branches of the respiratory tract and blood are classified as "carcinogenic" by the World Health Organization (WHO).
    The alert will remain in force at least until Sunday but forecasters at Airparif said they expected an improvement as soon as Saturday.
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