Le Figaro Lyon
While air quality has improved year on year since 2007 for the main pollutants, in 2022 the annual average concentrations of the main monitored pollutants have stabilized or even increased slightly in many areas of the region. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
This is particularly the case for fine particles PM2.5 and PM10 which, after five years of constant decline, have risen slightly since 2020.
Blame it on a “
particularly hot and little rainy
” year, explains Didier Chapuis, director of actions for Atmo Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Regarding fine particles, emitted mainly by residential heating, Atmo thus anticipated a drop in these pollutants in view of the mildness of 2022. However, the opposite has occurred.
“
We have two types of explanations.
First, the light rains favored the suspension of particles in the air.
Secondly, the increase in the cost of energy has led to greater use of wood heating with wood that is perhaps less efficient, less dry but less expensive
”, continues the director.
A veritable vicious circle stems from the fact that these particles act on their side as “
climate forcing agents
” and are “
likely to make changes to the usual rainfall
”.
In Lyon, 100% of residents concerned by exceeding WHO thresholds
Concerning Lyon and the main agglomerations of the region, they concentrate four times more nitrogen pollution per m2 per inhabitant and four times more concerning fine particles than the average of the region.
In these large agglomerations, 96% of the inhabitants are exposed to concentrations above the WHO threshold for NO2, whereas they are only 62% in the region as a whole.
Regarding fine particles, 100% of the inhabitants of these urban areas are exposed to values above the WHO threshold.
For Atmo, several solutions could have an effect on these values such as "
acting on traffic volumes and thinking about reducing the share of the most polluting vehicles
" in particular via ZFEs, working "
on public transport and soft modes
" but also on “
the urban design of the city to expose the inhabitants less and promote the dispersion of particles while making the buildings more energy efficient
”.