Airparif launches a new tool to visualize the evolution of air pollution street by street and hour by hour

Airparif, which measures air quality in the Paris region, is launching a new tool on its website and app that will allow you to view the evolution of air pollution street by street and now hour by hour, France Inter reported on Thursday, July 11. The tool will be able to be used above the Olympic sites during the Paris Games to measure air quality, but also after the Games.

During the Olympic Games, spectators will therefore be able to know the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, fine particles or even ozone and know whether they are acceptable or not. Because in the event of a pollution peak, the levels vary greatly from one hour to the next, as explained by Antoine Trouche, engineer in charge of scientific mediation at Airparif: “Having this hour-by-hour forecast of air quality during the day will allow us to anticipate how these high concentrations of air pollutants will evolve and to adapt our behavior accordingly. We generally have maximum levels during the afternoon.”

With this information, those who wish to do so will be able to avoid certain streets that are too polluted, particularly if they are playing sports. As for the athletes present for the Games, they will know the state of air pollution precisely at their Olympic site. A determining factor, explains Antoine Trouche, since “Air pollution degrades sporting performance, we see it during international competitions.”

Airparif still recommends that the most vulnerable avoid all physical activity this summer in the event of a severe pollution peak.