Ile-de-France: air pollution skyrockets after deconfinement

As expected, the deconfinement saw a rise in air pollution in Ile-de-France, which however has not yet reached its levels before the two months of confinement, said Airparif on Wednesday.

During confinement, emissions, in particular those linked to road traffic, "had experienced a brutal and unprecedented fall, with emissions divided by four compared to pre-confinement levels", recalls in a press release the association which monitors the quality air in the capital region.

“Over the period from May 11 to 31, the gradual resumption of activities, and particularly of traffic, led to a rise in the quantities of pollutants released into the atmosphere for nitrogen oxides (Editor's note: pollutant mainly emitted by traffic road) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) at levels equivalent to 80% of the emissions observed before confinement, and up to 90% for the ring road, "says Airparif.

"Up to 80% of usual levels"

"CO2 emissions are also on the rise, with an increase of up to 80% from the usual levels", specifies Airparif.

In terms of air quality, this increase in emissions results in a “gradual return to normal […], with varying intensity depending on the pollutants. But pollution levels are already approaching the usual conditions in Ile-de-France at this time of the year. ”

Thus, for fine particles "after a decrease of -7% during confinement, the levels usually observed at this time of the year are reached again", while for nitrogen dioxide, the drop in concentration in the 'air' went from -25% during confinement to -15% in the first 3 weeks of deconfinement '.

My Earth Newsletter

I'm registering

Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more

VIDEO. Air pollution: before and after the impact of confinement in major cities in France

The slightest reduction in fine particles and their rapid rise is notably due to their more numerous sources of emissions (heating, public works or agriculture in addition to road traffic) and to weather conditions.

This increase in pollution, particularly due to road traffic, was expected and was also observed by other Approved Regional Air Quality Surveillance Associations, such as in Occitania or New Aquitaine, without returning to the levels of before confinement.