Wednesday will be marked by a peak in ozone pollution in the Paris region. The heat of the past few days should not help matters.
Pollution and heat do not mix well, yet this is the cocktail in store for us on July 20. The Airparif association, which measures pollutant levels in Île-de-France, announces a pollution peak for tomorrow in the region. Ozone will exceed 180 µg / m³ on average over one hour, which corresponds to the information threshold. Two criteria are used to trigger this procedure: the area criterion, and the population criterion. The first corresponds to an affected area of at least 100 km2 In the region. The second is triggered when 10% of the population of a department are affected. If only one criterion is sufficient for the trigger, both will be met on Wednesday.
Airparif does not recommend any specific recommendation for the general population, unless you feel embarrassed or notice unusual symptoms (fatigue, cough, stuffy nose, shortness of breath, sore throat, etc.). In this case, take advice from a doctor or pharmacist.
Protect the most fragile
Vigilance must however be more important for so-called vulnerable and sensitive populations. A person is said to be sensitive when they notice symptoms or discomfort during pollution episodes. This may be the case, for example, for people who are immunocompromised, diabetic or even who have a neurological disorder. Vulnerable people are infants and children under five, pregnant women, people over 65 and patients with respiratory or cardiovascular pathologies (asthma, respiratory and heart failure, etc.). For all these people, it is advisable to reduce or even avoid intense physical and sporting activity (which requires breathing through the mouth), both outdoors and indoors. Outings in the early morning, late afternoon or near major highways are also to be avoided.
Heatwave and particles
The alert procedure could be triggered in the event of an aggravation beyond 300 µg / m³, which has not happened for ozone since the association’s first readings in 1994. However, the weather could favor the appearance of alert episodes. The heat and the absence of wind in fact prevent pollutants from being diluted in the atmosphere and keep them in the air. Twelve French departments are on heat wave vigilance until at least Wednesday evening. As for Île-de-France, its inhabitants withstand temperatures of 36 to 39 ° C. Unfavorable conditions, but the heat wave should be brief and give way to thunderstorms on Wednesday evening.
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