the first official map of pollution in the Paris metro and RER reveals “high levels” in three stations

Measurements on the platforms of Belleville, Oberkampf and Jaurès stations reveal a concentration of fine PM10 particles exceeding 480 µg/m3, beyond the threshold recommended by the National Health Security Agency.

Polluted public transport. Ile-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), the authority organizing transport in the Paris region, and Airparif unveiled, Monday January 22, a map of air pollution in 44 Paris metro and RER stations. Three of them display “high levels” concentration of fine particles.

Fine particles generated in particular by train braking regularly give rise to concern, and have led to a complaint against the RATP. Measurements, carried out as part of a documentary in the series “Vert de rage” broadcast on France 5, revealed, in May 2023, the extent of the presence of fine particles in the air of the capital’s metro.

Measurements on the platforms of the Belleville, Oberkampf and Jaurès stations reveal a concentration of fine PM10 particles exceeding 480 µg/m3, beyond the threshold recommended by the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) from one hour onwards. ‘exposure. On the other docks evaluated by the study, 31 stations display an “average level” of fine PM10 particles, that is to say between 140 and 480 µg/m3, and ten a “low level”, therefore less than 140 µg/m3.

No proven danger, according to the RATP

However, “we cannot interpret these data in terms of dangerousness”underlined Sophie Mazoué, sustainable development manager for the RATP group. “The work communicated by Airparif and IDFM does not reflect the exposure of travelers or employees” since none of them has to stay on a platform for an hour, she added.

The measurements were carried out in 2019 and 2021, at least for a full week seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and at best continuously throughout the period 2015-2022 via the RATP and SNCF measurement network. .