Ile-de-France residents had the impression of breathing less stale air during confinement. They were right. During this period, Airparif noted a significant reduction in air pollution, in particular nitrogen dioxide (but less for fine particles). The institute will now monitor the expected recovery with the resumption of activities ...
Between March 17, the date of confinement, and the end of April, ten days before deconfinement, the organization noted a net reduction in pollution, in particular with nitrogen dioxide, a local pollutant mainly emitted by road traffic. . The fall reached 20% to 35% depending on the week, and up to 50% along the main roads, said Airparif in a press release published on Friday.
“The impact is less for particles (PM10 and PM2.5), with a decrease of -7% which is explained by a strong influence of adverse weather conditions and by more sources of emissions, and not only local “, Also notes the association for monitoring air quality in Île-de-France.
These particles are not only from road traffic, but also from heating, construction and agriculture, which had a "significant impact" during an episode of pollution in late March, said Airparif in its statement.
-30% for ultrafine particles
The body has also studied the presence in the air of ultrafine particles (PUF, less than 100 nm, which can be as small as a DNA molecule), using a first station installed in the center from Paris, in the Halles district. The consequences of confinement were more significant on these PUFs, the surveys highlighting “a drop of around -30% for this type of particles, whose emissions are mainly linked to traffic (road, air) in built-up areas "
Evaluation of the impact on particle pollution in #IslandofFrance during #confinement: ↘ -7% of particles (PM10 and PM2.5)
↘ -30% of ultrafine particles (PUF) #Pollution # Covid19
More info : https://t.co/3c6z89JZJQ pic.twitter.com/MC06pA7DV4
The fall "is even greater on the range of the smallest ultrafine particles, namely less than 20 nanometers, with a drop of the order of 50%".
Airparif also stresses that it will now “assess the consequences on air quality of the deconfinement […], with changes that are more gradual than during confinement, which was sudden. Particular attention will be paid to the consequences of the increase in road traffic, the main source of air pollution in Ile-de-France and which has been gradually increasing over the past ten days without having regained the same intensity to date as 'before confinement'.
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In addition to its harmful aspects for human health, air pollution is suspected of worsening sensitivity to the coronavirus.
VIDEO. Air pollution: before and after the impact of confinement in major cities in France