Fine particle pollution alert Monday in Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhône

The maximum speed limits have been lowered by 20% on the main roads and the authorities will increase the anti-pollution checks of vehicles.

“The pollution episode is of the winter combustion type,” said the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture in a press release.

"The stable weather conditions (absence of wind, little dispersion) and the accumulation of particles" induce "the passage to level 1 alert" on Monday in the Bouches-du-Rhône and Vaucluse, where the weather conditions will remain "similar" Monday and Tuesday, details AtmoSud, a regional organization that monitors air quality.

"The accumulation of pollutants and the high levels of fine particles create a high risk", adds AtmoSud.

As a result, the authorities advise avoiding intense physical or sports activities and continuing to ventilate the premises for at least ten minutes a day.

They also call for favoring carpooling, public transport or non-polluting modes of travel.

For vulnerable or sensitive populations, they also suggest favoring short trips or trips requiring the least effort and avoiding high traffic areas during peak hours.

In the agricultural sector, the spreading of mineral and organic fertilizers must be postponed.