In Les Roche de Condrieux, an industrial area in France, the sulphur dioxide limit value was recently exceeded at one point. At 300 µg/m³, the hourly average was above the permitted value for two hours. The warning was only issued in the late afternoon.
Air pollution in the Thai metropolis of Bangkok is alarming. According to IQAir, a company specialising in international air quality monitoring, particulate matter levels are currently 15 times higher than recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This makes Bangkok one of the ten most polluted cities in the world.
The relentless and unstoppable force of nature has once again manifested itself in China in the form of a massive sandstorm that has been raging in the north-west of the country since mid-February 2024. This force of nature, together with the existing fine dust pollution, poses major challenges for the world's most populous country.
High levels of particulate matter, poor air quality and tough measures: Milan and eight other provinces in northern Italy's Lombardy region are currently struggling with severe air pollution. In response to the alarming environmental situation, the authorities have adopted a series of restrictive measures. These affect not only citizens, but also motorists.
Air pollution in Berlin has reached an alarming level. The air quality index (LQI) ranked dangerously high on 6 December 2023. A sad reality that shows us the catastrophic effects of our political decisions. This city, which once wanted to shine with the construction of cycle lanes, many green spaces and pedestrian zones, has taken a different path and is increasingly suffocating in car smog.
In the south of France, people are suffering from enormous heat these days. This contributes massively to the formation of ozone. Therefore, strict driving bans have already been declared in Marseille. Avignon, Toulon and Nice are also threatened with driving bans.
Devastating forest fires are raging in southern France. Thousands of holidaymakers had to be evacuated from campsites. The flames are not only endangering the people in the region and causing enormous property damage, but are also contributing greatly to particulate pollution in the air. Is this why driving bans are now threatening?
In the event of high air pollution, intelligent displays will inform citizens and encourage them to use public transport. This should prevent driving bans.
The City of Paris has announced free parking for residents on Thursday 15 June due to air pollution. AIRPARIF predicts that the ozone information threshold (O3) will be exceeded on that day.
Today, new vehicles weigh almost twice as much as old cars. Electric cars in particular, with their heavy battery, put too much strain on the traffic infrastructure - and raise doubts about whether parking spaces and roads can cope with the heavy weight of electric vehicles.
