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Belgium over the limit for fine particles

13:02 23/01/2017

Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia all exceeded the legal limit for fine particles in the air at the weekend.

Flanders passed the limit of 50 micrograms of particles per cubic metre of air on Saturday to reach 57µg/m³. The Brussels region reached 44µg/m³ on Saturday, and passed the limit on Sunday when it reached 52µg/m³, the inter-regional environment office Ircel said. In Wallonia, air pollution peaked at 64 µg/m³.

The reason for higher concentrations of fine particles is the lack of any significant wind, which means pollution at ground level is not swept away and concentrations are not reduced. That situation is forecast to remain for the next few days, and the concentration on Monday is likely to remain above 50µg/m³.

The Flemish environment agency has advised the public to avoid using wood fires in fireplaces and stoves, as wood fires can dramatically increase the local presence of fine particles.

Photo: David Stockman/Belga

Written by Alan Hope

Comments

yttap

Time to phase out diesel cars! Time to get diesel vans off the roads and do their deliveries at night. Time to give incentives to people buying low-emission cars.

Jan 25, 2017 21:25