The information comes from Actu Lyon. For seven days now, Lyon and its metropolitan area have been under a pollution alert. This Wednesday, January 22, the air quality index remains concerning, even though the expected weather conditions tomorrow should disperse the particles and provide a breath of more breathable air.
And according to Actu Lyon, the peak was reached this Tuesday at 2 PM with a PM2.5 index of 178, propelling Lyon into the top 15 worldwide of the most polluted cities, a ranking dominated by cities in Asia and Eastern Europe. A sad record, especially for a city that usually ranks much lower in the annual IQAir standings (3,351st place in 2023).
The causes of this atmospheric fiasco
The main culprit? Fine particles PM2.5, generated 90% from inefficient wood heating and road traffic. Add to that some unfavorable weather conditions...
winter particularly conducive to trapping pollutants in the ground, and you get an explosive cocktail for your lungs. To make matters worse, a fire at a sorting center in Saint-Fons that occurred on Sunday, January 19, has worsened the situation. Result: throat irritations, bad odors, and exasperated residents.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
A ranking that stings (both literally and figuratively)
As of this Wednesday, Lyon sits at 66th place in the world pollution rankings, far from its peak the day before, yet still ahead of heavyweights like Paris, Rome, and New York. But Lyon residents can take heart: the air quality is expected to return to a more acceptable level by Thursday, January 23rd.
Source: Actu Lyon
