Pollution spike prompts alert

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AIR QUALITY MONITOR IN RHÔNE-ALPES WARNS AIR QUALITY WILL REMAIN POOR UNTIL RAIN, FORECAST FOR SATURDAY, ARRIVES POLLUTION levels have spiked to dangerous levels in parts of Haute-Savoie,


the region’s air quality monitor has warned. Air Rhône-Alpes said that air quality in the vallée de l'Arve had become particularly “bad”, as a result of smoke from wood-burning chimneys


and conditions “conducive to the accumulation of pollutants”. Conditions will improve when forecast rain arrives on Saturday, it said. The pollution alert has been triggered after levels of


the fine particles in the air exceeded a threshhold of more than 50 microgrammes per cubic metre for the past 48 hours. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie advised vulnerable people stay indoors


and asked all others to avoid intense outdoor physical activity. It also imposed reduced speed limits on the A410 to the Evires Scientrier, on the A40 to Annemasse Fayet, and on the road


between Bonneville and Marignier, advised people to use public transport instead of their own vehicles and to turn down their heating wherever possible. Air quality in Rennes, Nantes and Le


Mans is improving after a pollution alert was issued on Wednesday. Photo: Alain Rouiller