FRANCE-POLLUTION Paris suffers from increased pollution, partly due to Iceland volcano

Record ID: 217058

  • Title: FRANCE-POLLUTION Paris suffers from increased pollution, partly due to Iceland volcano
  • Date: 26th September 2014
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 26, 2014) (REUTERS) PARIS SKY-LINE WITH VISIBLE ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION ON SACRE COEUR BASILICA TOURIST TAKING PICTURE OF PARIS SKYLINE WITH VISIBLE POLLUTION ON EIFFEL TOWER PARIS SKY-LINE WITH VISIBLE POLLUTION ON SACRE COEUR BASILICA TOURIST WATCHING PARIS SKYLINE EIFFEL TOWER POLLUTION SENSORS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FORECASTING ENGINEER AT AIRPARIF
  • Embargoed: 11th October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6U8PR8Y82UUSO8DCJFBQO8700
  • Story Text: Particles emanating from an Iceland volcano combined with local pollution posing a health risk to Paris residents was expected to end at the beginning of the week-end, Airparif -the institute which measures the purity of air in the French capital, said on Friday (September 26).
    An earthquake struck the region around Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano in August while fissures in the area spewed out lava.
    Ash clouds crossed some 2300 kilometres before arriving over France early this week.
    Combined with local pollution and an anti-cyclone on the country, the fine PM10 particles posed a health risk to Paris residents.
    The PM 10 are particles which can penetrate people's lungs and can directly affect the respiratory system and therefore people's health.
    "From Tuesday September 23, we have seen a period of pollution with PM 10 particles. The PM10 particles are particles smaller than cells which penetrate easily in the respiratory system. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we were under the influence of the Iceland volcano, so we had particles from the volcano which added themselves to local particles on the Ile de France region. From Thursday to Saturday, we have seen more particles which origin was the Ile de France region. And today Friday September 26, we expect an alert threshold and on the contrary tomorrow Saturday, we expect it to stop, because the conditions of dispersion in the atmosphere are improving," said Christophe Ampe, a forecasting engineer at Airparif.
    On the ring road around Paris, motorists were advised to lower the speed limit , and signs were put up advising drivers to drive slowly along this congested road.
    In the capital, some Parisians said they wanted to help improve the air quality by using the public bicycles hiring scheme Velib'.
    "There was a pollution peak and it was an opportunity not to put further particles in Paris air," Parisian Jean Michel Ritoux said.
    Pollution is expected to stop over the week-end.
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