Now, this is scary!
The air quality in France and Belgium and in much of Germany was so horrendous, that authorities began offering people free rides on public transportation. It is the worst quality of air seen in Europe in years.
Apparently, the air is colored yellow, and forced all sorts of measures that are highly unusual, including decreased speed limits, as well as the public transportation measures.
So, why is the smog this bad in France at the moment? There is a reason, as Lori Hinnant explains in the article that I used to write this blog entry:
"The smog is particularly severe here because France has an unusually high number of diesel vehicles, whose nitrogen oxide fumes mix with ammonia from springtime fertilizers and form particulate ammonium nitrate. Pollutants from the burning of dead leaves and wood contribute as well."
That, mixed with unseasonably warm weather in much of France at the moment, has helped contribute to make matter worse there.
The pollution levels rank above even some of the world's most notoriously polluted cities in the world, and posed serious health hazards to those affected.
The government in France is trying to instruct people in how to cope, and saying that if the people follow their direction, the air quality will improve noticeably very quickly.
For now, though, the free rides in Paris continue through this weekend.
"Free rides to combat pollution in France, Belgium" by Lori Hinnant of The Associated Press, March 14, 2014:
http://news.yahoo.com/free-rides-combat-pollution-france-belgium-160447096.html
No comments:
Post a Comment