• The Capnavir study, which has just started in the port of Bordeaux, should make it possible to measure the consequences of fine particle pollution emitted by cruise ships.

  • The port of Bordeaux was chosen by Ademe and Cerema because it has the particularity of being located in the city center.

  • This campaign will measure until October 5 the emissions of eight boats as they enter and leave the port, as well as where they turn around.

What are the consequences of the exposure of residents of a port to emissions from cruise ships? Do very fine particles (PM1) have a greater impact on health than other particles? To answer these questions, Cerema (Center for studies and expertise on risks, the environment, mobility and development) and Ademe (Agency for the environment and environmental control ) have just started a study on pollution from ships in urban areas, in the port of Bordeaux.

The Capnavir study (for CAractisation of fine particles from fluvial or maritime NAVIgation), will thus measure until October 5 the emissions of eight ships entering and leaving the port, as well as at the location where they turn around.

"The interest of Bordeaux is that it is a" city-port ", since the port is located in the city center, explains Christine Bugajny, coordinator of the study and head of the" Air, noise, vibration "at Cerema.

We are thus in a complex environment with a multitude of sources of pollution.

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"We are going to work ship by ship"

The aim of this measurement campaign is not, however, to measure the pollution of all traffic near the quays, which Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine had already done in 2018. “It is not quite the case. same approach, this time we are going to work ship by ship, continues Christine Bugajny. Each time a ship passes, we will try to characterize the particles it emits, as close as possible to its plume. We have installed sensors on the Chaban-Delmas bridge, for example, under which ships pass. We thus want to determine a sort of "signature" for maritime and river traffic. "

The measurement of particles by mass (in µg / m3) is supplemented by a measurement of particles by number as well as sulfur dioxide (SO2), a pollutant linked to the sulfur content of the marine fuel oil used.

"We know that in urban areas, the share of road traffic is much greater in pollution than that of maritime traffic, but we have little knowledge of the nature and concentrations of very fine particles emitted by ships" adds Christine Bugajny.

This is why the measuring devices will go down to particles PM 1, in addition to PM 2.5, 5 and 10.

The conclusion of this study "will be essential for future decisions with a view to reducing emissions" assures the coordinator, who recalls that this is a "national project which will be of interest to all ports welcoming ocean liners.

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  • Fine particles

  • Traffic

  • Air pollution

  • Liner

  • Aquitaine

  • Bordeaux

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