Paris Offers Free Public Transport to Fight Air Pollution

Public transport in Paris and two other French cities is free from Friday morning through Sunday night. The move comes as Paris and neighboring areas choke on record-high air pollution levels.

"I am asking all residents in Paris and neighbouring areas to favour the use of public transport," said Jean-Paul Huchon, head of the STIF organisation that regulates transport in Paris, according to AFP

The European Environment Agency announced that several parts of France, Belgium and Germany are experiencing a sudden spike in particulate matter in the air. "Since Wednesday almost three quarters of France has experienced PM10 concentrations above the limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (daily mean), with some areas recording more than double that level," EEA said in a news release.

Sunny days coupled with cool nights and lack of wind contributed to the lingering particulate matter in the Parisian atmosphere, BBC reports.

Particulate particles of size 10 micrometers are called PM10. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, these particles pose significant risk to human health.

According to recent data from EEA, Paris had 147 micrograms of particulate matter (PM) per cubic metre of air while Brussels had 114, Amsterdam had 10, Berlin had 81 and London had 79.7, Reuters reported. Check real-time air quality in different parts of Europe, here.

Several residents of Belgium and France drive diesel cars. Diesel vehicles are known to emit larger levels of PM10 than petrol vehicles, EEA says.

The waiver of fare on France's massive public transport is expected to take cars off the roads. French officials have also reduced speed limits on motor vehicles by 20 kilometer/hour.

On some motorways, the speed limit has been cut from 130 km/h to 110km/h. Use of fireplaces at home and burning of waste in the open has been banned, a news website from France, The Local, reported.

People living in Paris and neighboring areas have also been asked to reduce exercise, according to a statement by French Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development and Energy. Strenuous physical activity can increase breathing problems and even lead to a rise in heart attack risk.

Winter smog had recently covered Beijing. According to data from the U.S. embassy, the level of PM2.5 particles in Beijing reached as high as 378. PM2.5 is particulate matter of size 2.5 micrometers.