The Gironde prefecture indicated this Saturday, January 15, to have activated a fine particle pollution alert procedure and and asks motorists tolower speed limits on departmental roads by 20 km/h. This reduction applies on all axes limited to 80 km/h and more, without however going below 70 km/h, and “until the end of the pollution episode”.
The Gironde prefecture also recommends “to vulnerable and sensitive populations” of “limit the practice of intense physical and sporting activities, both outdoors and indoors”.
Bordeaux particularly concerned
This air pollution is due to “cold temperatures favoring the release of particles linked to the heating of housing, in particular wood heating”, according to Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Thereby, “the threshold of information and recommendations for PM10 risks being exceeded on Saturday and Sunday in Gironde, more particularly in the agglomeration of Bordeaux”, ensures the body that monitors air quality. “This situation should last for several days due to the maintenance of stable weather conditions favoring the accumulation of pollutants”.