(Paris) Air quality in southern Europe, particularly in Spain, was affected at the start of the week by a major transport of dust from the Sahara which began this weekend, the European observatory Copernicus announced on Tuesday.
“This dust is having an impact on air quality in most of the western Mediterranean, particularly in Spain where high levels of PM10 (particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter, editor’s note) are expected in most parts of the Mediterranean. part of the country, peaking in the region on July 11,” according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) bulletin.
“Parts of Italy and southern France” are also affected by these forecasts.
“In the most affected regions, PM10 will exceed the 24-hour average exposure threshold of 50 µg/m3 established for the European Union for this type of pollutant”, specifies Copernicus.
“The transport of dust over Spain coincides with a heat wave affecting the country, both phenomena being fed by hot air from the Sahara”, explains the observatory.
In addition to coloring the sky in orange or red, this dust from sandstorms in North Africa can affect human health, by aggravating respiratory or cardiovascular problems, and energy production, by reducing the performance of solar panels. , recalls Copernicus.
However, these sand mists are less toxic than ultrafine particles from road traffic, wood heating, coal, or fires.
Sand and dust storms mainly affect people in countries in arid or semi-arid regions of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia and China, representing “a serious health threat”, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).