Bas-Rhin is experiencing an episode of fine particle air pollution, alerting ATMO Grand Est this Monday, January 20. The most vulnerable people are recommended to limit their outings. A return to normal is expected on Wednesday January 22 with the arrival of an atmospheric disturbance bringing rain and wind.
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An episode of fine particle pollution is occurring this Monday, January 20 in the Bas-Rhin department, warns the air quality monitoring association ATMO Grand Est in a press release. The winter weather conditions of recent days have had the effect of accumulating pollutants, particularly fine particles such as PM10 linked to combustion.
An information and recommendations procedure has been launched for the Bas-Rhinois and more particularly for the inhabitants of the Strasbourg metropolitan area where the highest levels of pollution are concentrated. This alert level corresponds, specifies the association, to a short-term exposure presenting a risk to the human health of particularly sensitive groups within the population.
This episode of “combustion” type pollution is characterized by a concentration of PM10, that is to say particles whose diameter is less than 10 micrometers. It is mainly of carbon origin, resulting from heating homes and vehicle engines. “As it is cold, the heaters run more, especially wood heating which tends to release more fine particles. This is also the case for vehicles that start cold.“, explains Alsatian meteorologist Christophe Mertz.
-The cold and lack of wind in recent days favor the accumulation of these particles. “On the Bas-Rhin, an anticyclone with very little wind froze the air mass. The high pressures pushed it down to ground level, preventing pollutants from dispersing. As a result, they tend to accumulate in the first meters of the atmosphere, which increases particle concentrations.“, observe Christophe Mertz.
Pollution will continue for at least 24 hours. In its press release, ATMO Grand Est still plans a “exceeding 50µg/m3 for PM10 on Tuesday January 21 in the Bas-Rhin leading to the triggering of an alert procedure on persistence“.
It is also possible that the threshold for information and recommendations may be exceeded in other departments of the Grand Est, particularly in Haut-Rhin. “This is not surprising since this department experiences exactly the same weather conditions as those of Bas-Rhin.“, points out Christophe Mertz.
During this episode of pollution, a certain number of recommendations are addressed to sensitive and most vulnerable people. People who are diabetic, immunocompromised, suffering from neurological conditions or at risk of cardiac, respiratory or infectious diseases, in particular, are invited to take some precautions. For example, they are advised to limit their outings as much as possible, favoring those that require the least effort. They are also advised to avoid areas with heavy road traffic during peak periods.
In all cases, it is requested to reduce or postpone intense physical and sporting activities including competitions.
A return to normal is expected from Wednesday January 22.”with the gradual arrival from the west of an atmospheric disturbance bringing rain and wind in its path, which will allow the particles present in the air to be washed away and dispersed“.
