Monaco residents have been urged to take precautions as a continuing Saharan dust episode threatens to push particulate pollution above official limits in the Principality…
According to measurements from the Directorate of the Environment, concentrations of PM10 particles could reach the threshold of 80 micrograms per cubic metre. PM10 refers to microscopic airborne particles, including dust and pollution, small enough to be inhaled into the respiratory system. Weather conditions are also limiting the dispersal of pollutants, prolonging their presence in the atmosphere.
The Government has issued particular advice for vulnerable people, including pregnant women, young children, over-65s and those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions. Intense outdoor exercise should be reduced, while time spent close to heavily trafficked roads should also be limited.
Anyone experiencing breathing difficulties, wheezing or heart palpitations is advised to seek guidance from a pharmacist or doctor.
Motorists are meanwhile being encouraged to help reduce pollution by leaving their cars at home for shorter journeys where possible. Public transport, car-sharing and non-polluting alternatives are recommended, particularly during peak traffic periods.
Monaco continuously monitors air quality through five stations across the Principality, measuring pollutants including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone.
The current episode is linked to Saharan particles carried north across the Mediterranean.
Image: Geoff Brooks