To deal with the peak in fine particle pollution, the prefect of Bas-Rhin is announcing a series of emergency measures starting Tuesday, January 21. The speed is lowered by 20 km/h. Fragile people are invited to limit their outings.
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Barely a few hours after the alert from the ATMO Grand Est monitoring network concerning atmospheric pollution in the Bas-Rhin department, the prefect Jacques Witowski launches a series of emergency measures intended to limit the phenomenon. They come into force from 6 a.m. on Tuesday January 21 and concern different sectors of activity.
The maximum authorized speed for all vehicles is lowered by 20 km/h on motorways and divided roads. Individuals must refrain from burning all green waste, the same goes for farmers with agricultural residues. For more information, you can go to the prefecture’s website.
-The episode of fine particle pollution which has been raging since Monday, January 20 in the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin can be explained by the winter weather conditions of recent days which have had the effect of accumulating pollutants, particularly in fine particles linked to combustion. 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 and Bas-Rhin, an anticyclone with very little wind has frozen 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.
The pollution will continue for at least 24 hours with a high level of concentrations. “We must expect an excess of 50µg/m3 for fine PM10 particles tomorrow Tuesday January 21 in the two departments, Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin. warns Audrey Deblay Davoise, ATMO Grand Est engineer. This persistence will lead to an alert procedure,”new procedure, triggered automatically from the second day of pollution”.
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.
