No wind, heating and heavy traffic: the red alert for fine particles has been triggered in the Great South

La circulation routière forte impacte fortement la qualité de l’air en cette période de l’année. Illustration Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

Main measure implemented by the prefectures of several departments in the south of France: a reduction of 20 km/h in the authorized speed on the roads, to preserve air quality.

An anticyclone that maintains a certain mildness in the lower layers of the atmosphere, heating systems that run in the heart of winter and car traffic that remains heavy, during this period of travel linked to vacations and end-of-year celebrations: the air quality is seriously degraded in several departments in the south of France, where the prefectures triggered a red alert for fine particles on January 1st. Concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and PM10 particles are indeed high, which directly affects the air we breathe, with possible risks to our health.

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Controls will be reinforced on the roads

Already affected on Tuesday, December 31, the Var is extending the system this Wednesday, which is now also extended to Bouches-du-Rhône and Vaucluse, as announced in a press release by the prefects.

The main measure implemented to preserve air quality: the reduction of 20 km/h in the authorized speed on roads and motorways, a reduction which cannot, however, fall below 70 km/h, depending on the roads concerned. A measure that must be respected, to preserve everyone's health, especially since the police have been instructed to increase checks to ensure compliance.

Reduce intense sporting activities

Other recommendations: reduce intense sporting and physical activities, avoid walking if you are fragile in terms of heart or respiratory problems, or particularly sensitive to the impact of pollution, such as people with diabetes, immunodeficiencies, neurological conditions or those at risk of heart, respiratory or infection.

At the professional level, and even if this is certainly more limited on this January 1st which is a public holiday, the authorities also recommend a reduction in polluting activities, whether in industry or in agriculture, for example for the spreading of phytosanitary products.

Other sectors are also experiencing air quality described as poor by Athmo France, the public service that gathers air pollution data, notably Montpellier and Tarbes in Occitanie, but also Lyon and Bordeaux in France. The situation should improve overall from Thursday, January 2.