Jumps in use of car-sharing and bike-sharing services
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/paris-pollution-hits-life-threatening-level-1.2573059
By Thomson Reuters, March 14, 2014
A pigeon is perched at the Saint Vincent de Paul church as smog cloaks Paris.
Air pollution in Paris has hit health-threatening levels over 80
per cent higher than in London and Berlin as a sunny spell reaches
western Europe, prompting the city to curb road speeds and offer free
public transport.
Charges were also waived for the city's pioneering cycle and electric car-sharing schemes this week as a visible haze hung over the streets of the French capital.
European Environment Agency (EEA) figures for Thursday showed there was 147 microgrammes of particulate matter (PM) per cubic metre of air in Paris compared with 114 in Brussels, 104 in Amsterdam, 81 in Berlin and 79.7 in London.
Background pollution — the outdoor air quality experienced by the average citizen — topped the 100 maximum measurable index level in Paris on Thursday, data from pollution watchdog airqualitynow.eu showed, making the French capital the only European capital in the "very high" level zone. The index stood at 81 in London, 76 in Berlin and 61 in Madrid.
Paris is traditionally more susceptible to poor air quality than
other main western European capitals, with only Athens scoring worse
according to World Health Organization (WHO) annual averages collected
in 2008.
Fiscal support for diesel over gasoline in motor vehicles and heavy private vehicle traffic have been cited as causes.
The near-absence of wind and temperatures about 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages were also a factor this time, according to Meteo France data.
"While the current levels in Europe do pose a significant risk to health, peak levels can be up to 4-5 times higher in Asian cities like Beijing," an EEA spokesman told Reuters.
"Nevertheless, the levels of PM pollution encountered in the currently affected European regions would also be classified as pollution episodes in Asian cities," he said.
Three environmental groups worried over the recurring spikes in French air pollution this week filed a lawsuit "against x" - where the person or body deemed responsible is difficult to ascertain - for "endangering the lives of others."
"We know pollution causes deaths. Emergency departments are full of people with breathing problems, that's why we decided to file a complaint," said Nadir Saifi, a member of Ecology Without Borders, one of the groups filing the suit.
Charges were also waived for the city's pioneering cycle and electric car-sharing schemes this week as a visible haze hung over the streets of the French capital.
European Environment Agency (EEA) figures for Thursday showed there was 147 microgrammes of particulate matter (PM) per cubic metre of air in Paris compared with 114 in Brussels, 104 in Amsterdam, 81 in Berlin and 79.7 in London.
Background pollution — the outdoor air quality experienced by the average citizen — topped the 100 maximum measurable index level in Paris on Thursday, data from pollution watchdog airqualitynow.eu showed, making the French capital the only European capital in the "very high" level zone. The index stood at 81 in London, 76 in Berlin and 61 in Madrid.
Bike-sharing
services, buses, underground trains and other forms of transport will
remain free over the weekend.
Fiscal support for diesel over gasoline in motor vehicles and heavy private vehicle traffic have been cited as causes.
The near-absence of wind and temperatures about 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages were also a factor this time, according to Meteo France data.
'Pollution causes deaths'
EU environment officials noted that pollution hot spots elsewhere in the world are far worse."While the current levels in Europe do pose a significant risk to health, peak levels can be up to 4-5 times higher in Asian cities like Beijing," an EEA spokesman told Reuters.
"Nevertheless, the levels of PM pollution encountered in the currently affected European regions would also be classified as pollution episodes in Asian cities," he said.
Three environmental groups worried over the recurring spikes in French air pollution this week filed a lawsuit "against x" - where the person or body deemed responsible is difficult to ascertain - for "endangering the lives of others."
"We know pollution causes deaths. Emergency departments are full of people with breathing problems, that's why we decided to file a complaint," said Nadir Saifi, a member of Ecology Without Borders, one of the groups filing the suit.
Rush to bikes, car-sharing
City of Paris officials argue the situation would be much worse had the government not introduced the popular bike- and car-sharing schemes now being replicated in cities such as London.
The use of Autolib cars had jumped by 46 per cent on Thursday
compared to the week before, Paris transport councillor Julien Bargeton
said, while Velib cycle use had risen by 72 per cent.
Charges for these services and buses, underground trains and other forms of transport will remain free over the weekend.
Speed limits were also reduced by 20 kilometres an hour and authorities in the Ile-de-France region around Paris took all but the most essential public vehicles off the roads.
Warnings from authorities to avoid physical exertions did not deter Parisians from enjoying the warm weather, however.
"My lungs are already polluted by cigarettes, so I don't really care," Sophie Boisseau, 29, told Reuters at the terrace of the Biscornu cafe near the stock exchange in central Paris.
Charges for these services and buses, underground trains and other forms of transport will remain free over the weekend.
Speed limits were also reduced by 20 kilometres an hour and authorities in the Ile-de-France region around Paris took all but the most essential public vehicles off the roads.
Warnings from authorities to avoid physical exertions did not deter Parisians from enjoying the warm weather, however.
"My lungs are already polluted by cigarettes, so I don't really care," Sophie Boisseau, 29, told Reuters at the terrace of the Biscornu cafe near the stock exchange in central Paris.