An association that fights for air quality had a CNRS laboratory measure the levels of fine particles in the Paris metro.

However, the figures recorded are much higher than those declared by the RATP.

This phenomenon concerns more particularly RER stations.

Air pollution in metro stations in Paris is "worrying", and much higher than the figures provided by the RATP, according to the association Respire, which fights for air quality.

This had measurements taken by a CNRS laboratory a few weeks ago in ten stations between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Result: the measured pollution is up to ten times higher than in the street, according to this new study.

Pollution is highest at RER stations, probably because the trains are bigger and emit more particles when braking.

Jean-Baptiste Renard, research director at the CNRS, is stationed on the quays with his portable device.

It noted concentrations of fine and ultrafine particles that were very variable depending on the depth of the station, the aeration and the time of day, sometimes with very high levels.

"Gare de Lyon, when the RER arrives, we really hear the braking very hard and we see an increase in pollution by a factor of ten in a few seconds," he told Europe 1.

"The situation in the RER stations is particularly worrying: 500 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter, that's what we find in Beijing or New Delhi", says Olivier Blond, president of the association Respire.

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Refine the measurement of pollution in the metro

RATP currently has active air pollution sensors in two metro stations.

But for Olivier Blond, these installations are far from sufficient: "RATP does not even give itself the means to seriously measure air pollution, although it is not very complicated. If a small association like Respire manages to do it, she can do it, ”he annoys. 

Among the solutions: a change in the train braking system and particulate vacuum cleaners installed as close as possible to the tracks would make it possible to reduce pollution within the network.