The fine particle pollution alert procedure was triggered for Wednesday in Bouches-du-Rhône and Var, the air quality monitoring organization AtmoSud said on Tuesday.
“Weather conditions (cloudy weather, weak winds) and nighttime thermal inversions on Tuesday favor an increase in particle levels,” the organization explained.
In Vaucluse, the daily threshold (50 µg/m³) will be exceeded and the information-recommendations procedure will be triggered in this department, according to AtmoSud.
[#PICPOLLUTION] 📢 POLLUTION VIGILANCE - This Tuesday, February 6, the #BouchesduRhone and the #Var will experience an episode of #particle #pollution.
A prefectural information-recommendations system is triggered.
ℹ MORE info: 👉 https://t.co/wWpCj0l28s pic.twitter.com/BtVb2afrbm
— AtmoSud (@AtmoSud) February 6, 2024
It is recommended to avoid intense physical activities during the pollution episode and to favor public transport.
Fine particles, emitted by motor vehicles, industry and fires, are one of the air pollutants most harmful to health.
Also read: Air pollution more dangerous for health than tobacco and alcohol
This pollution caused the deaths of 253,000 people in the European Union (EU) in 2021, according to a 2023 report from the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Speed limit in Bouches-du-Rhône
“Pollutants from road traffic and industries are added to those from wood heating which do not disperse well,” explained the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture in a press release, specifying that this alert implies a strengthening of speed controls for vehicles and a “reduction of the maximum speeds authorized on roads by 20 km/h, without however falling below 70 km/h”,
#Fine particle pollution, @prefet13 triggers the level 1 alert procedure in the #BouchesduRhone department this Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
👉Health and behavioral recommendations ➡️ https://t.co/7AvcrqbE9g pic.twitter.com/ ulc4nJH9Ty
— Prefect of the PACA region and Bouches-du-Rhône (@Prefet13) February 6, 2024
For their part, manufacturers must implement “emergency measures to control their emissions”.
Other measures concern the reduction of ship speed or the postponement of spraying in the agricultural sector.
The Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis indicated in a press release that the “first 30 minutes of each journey” will be free on the Marseille self-service bike system on Wednesday, to encourage “the use of alternative transport”.
☁️ Fine particle pollution: the Metropolis activates its level 1 transport emergency plan
From this Wednesday and until the alert is lifted:
🚴 30min free Levélo in #Marseille
🅿️ Free P+R in Aix-en-Pce
🎟️ Tickets valid for the day on the RTM and Aix en Bus networks pic.twitter.com/Uciqw2jXJw
— Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence (@AMPMetropole) February 6, 2024
Public transport tickets will also be valid during the day on the RTM and Aix en Bus networks, in accordance with the “level 1 transport emergency plan”.