Illustration of a peak in air pollution.

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V. Wartner / 20 Minutes

Three regions are hit by an episode of fine particle pollution.

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and part of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and New Aquitaine are concerned, particularly because of dust from the Sahara.

"The Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region is affected these days by a significant increase in the levels of PM10 particles (fine particles) in the atmosphere", indicates in a press release the Atmo agency, responsible for monitoring the quality of the air.

"The origin of this situation, favored by relatively stable climatic conditions, is linked to mixed origins, such as for example emissions from domestic heating, still active despite the spring conditions, and to the contribution of Saharan dust", she specifies.

Ammonium nitrate emissions from spraying

“The agricultural sector is also starting to spread it in good weather.

This generates ammonium nitrate fumes which are transformed into secondary particles ”, also notes Hélène Tissot, project manager at the Atmo agency.

The organization explains that the information and recommendation threshold for sensitive people (50 μg / m3 / d) was crossed on Wednesday in certain parts of the region, like the Grand-Est, the Alps and the Corsica.

"This situation should continue and the concentrations of particles remain high, justifying the triggering, for this Thursday and Friday, of a persistence alert procedure", adds Atmo.

Lowered maximum speed on some roads

In New Aquitaine, seven of the twelve departments (Creuse, Corrèze, Haute-Vienne, Vienne, Dordogne, Landes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques) were classified Thursday on alert by Atmo and the prefecture of Creuse triggered its alert procedure for atmospheric pollution due in particular to "the contribution of desert dust brought from the Sahara by south-easterly winds".

As a result, the maximum authorized speed on the road network of certain departments, in particular Creuse and Dordogne, is lowered by 20 km / h, without however going below 70 km / h for national and departmental roads.

Limit emissions from automotive, industrial, artisanal and domestic sources

Eight of the twelve departments of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region are also concerned by this red vigilance (Haute-Loire, Rhône, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Drôme, Ain, Isère and Loire).

Individual heating with auxiliary wood (fireplaces, stoves, etc.) are prohibited in the Ain and in the two Savoie regions and measures to limit speed on the main roads have also been taken.

The Atmo network recalls that it is recommended, during such episodes, to limit emissions from automobile, industrial, artisanal and domestic sources, to favor short outings, to reduce intense physical and sporting activities.

At the beginning of February, winds from the Sahara had already caused pollution with sand dust in the South and the Great East.

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Pollution: Fine particles alert (from the Sahara) in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the Landes

  • Aquitaine

  • Lyon

  • Bordeaux

  • Fine particles

  • Pollution

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