Fine particles alert in France.

A cardiologist and a researcher claim that “their annual and daily average concentrations are too high compared to the recommendations”.

"The new standards established by the WHO (5 µg / m3 as an annual average instead of 10 µg / m3) are far from being reached in the city", explains Jean-Baptiste Renard, research director at CNRS, quoted in a report. communicated.

In fact, the limit value in France is much higher, at 25 µg / m3 as an annual average.

“Drastic measures would be necessary” to reduce exposure to these particles “less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) (…) which are the most dangerous for health”, continues the expert.

He also advocates new measurement methods to better assess chronic pollution from these particles.

"Reduce air quality-related deaths by 80%"

These fine particles have cardiovascular effects, respiratory effects including promoting asthma, effects on the brain and links with Alzheimer's disease, effects on the fetus with babies who are smaller at birth and more prone to asthma and links with diabetes, enumerated Pierre Souvet, cardiologist and president of the association Santé Environnement France. "We will reduce air quality-related deaths by 80%" by lowering the standards to 5 µg / m3 as an annual average, he stressed.

“We had few studies so far on exposure to small doses that take into account other risk factors,” he continues. But recent studies "break this received idea that below 10 µg / m3, nothing happens," he adds. "We must do the maximum" to "reduce the number of patients, with a colossal cost", insists the cardiologist.

WHO updated its global air quality guidelines for the first time since 2005 in September.

The WHO has lowered almost all of its reference thresholds - legally non-binding - which mainly relate to so-called classic pollutants: suspended particles, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and monoxide of carbon.

Fine particles mainly come from the combustion of fuel in various sectors, including transport, energy and industry and agriculture.

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