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Paris Is Not Beijing But The Pollution Is As Bad

Tyler Durden's picture




 

When you think of polluted cities, the Chinese capital probably springs to mind above all others - as we have noted, given the record-breaking levels of lung-killing smog. But in the past few days, another city is competing with Beijing when it comes to air pollution: Paris. On Friday, the city’s air quality index rating rose to 185, which puts it firmly in the 'unhealthy' bracket with people suffering adverse health effects as a result of breathing the smog. In reaction to this, as France24 reports, for the first time in 17 years, France is limiting vehicle use.

Time-lapse video of Paris pollution:

Via France24,

France is limiting vehicle use in the capital Paris amid a spike in pollution to health-threatening levels, only the second time the drastic measure has been introduced in nearly two decades.

 

 

A system of "alternating traffic", whereby vehicle use is restricted to alternate days depending on licence plate numbers, came into effect in Paris and its 22 surrounding suburbs at 5.30 am (04.30 GMT) on Monday, as the city tries to curb dangerous pollution levels.

 

The radical move has seen around 700 police officers deployed to 60 checkpoints around the French capital to ensure that only cars with number plates ending in odd numbers are out on the streets.

 

...

 

A decision will then be taken as to whether to extend the measure into Tuesday "depending on how the situation evolves", a statement from the office of French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said, with odd numbers potentially banned on Tuesday if an extension is deemed necessary.

 

Electric and hybrid cars will be exempted from the ban as well as any vehicle carrying three people or more.

 

It is the first time since 1997 that the French authorities have resorted to such a drastic measure.

 

...

 

Paris and much of northern France have been suffering under high pollution levels for several days after an extended period of cool, dry nights with much warmer daytime temperatures – climactic conditions that do not allow pollutant particles to disperse.

 

...

 

Friday saw pollution levels in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, hit peaks of 185 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic metre of air, far beyond the maximum alert level of 80 micrograms.

So, it seems the Chinese tourists will be right at home in Europe...

 

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Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:06 | 4565749 knukles
knukles's picture

Bathing goes a long way.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:32 | 4565848 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

We are talking about the French.   Once every two to four weeks?  Want them to wear out their skins?

Seriously, I thought the air quality was great with that constant northwest breeze off the channel.  Hemingway commented on the odd half light of Paris.  Usually low, fast moving clouds, which in the Midwest means thunder storms, but not in La France.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:54 | 4565929 Bonapartist
Bonapartist's picture

Paris in the summer contains no more body odor than any cracker-assed town in the southern US during the summer

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 21:05 | 4565965 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Well, yeah, but Walmart's on the other thread, and they've cleaned up the doggie doo.

Thank gawd, thought I would drown in poodle shit.  So I'm with you, Boney.

Some of us have a love/hate thang with France.  It's like your relatives.  They are kinda you, but not.  It reminds us who we are, and that can be a pain in the ass;)

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 00:20 | 4566501 Boris Alatovkrap
Boris Alatovkrap's picture

When is hot summer and cannot taking bath, Boris is eat very much Garlic and no one is complain.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:09 | 4565755 ThroxxOfVron
ThroxxOfVron's picture

mais, il est électrique! -unwashed and smelling of 'Elon Musk'

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:10 | 4565765 medium giraffe
medium giraffe's picture

It's only a problem if you can see it, that's why smog is bad and Cesium isn't.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:18 | 4565770 tickhound
tickhound's picture

That's ugly. Ironically, it would look even worse in a REAL 'economic' recovery.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:12 | 4565774 Totentänzerlied
Totentänzerlied's picture

Paris has industry?

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:14 | 4565779 tickhound
tickhound's picture

Consumption takes a shit too.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:35 | 4565860 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Perfume, truffles, wine, and snobbery.

C'est la vie.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:17 | 4565787 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Meh.  Call me when the plague of locusts shows up.

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 00:03 | 4566472 Boxed Merlot
Boxed Merlot's picture

plague of locusts...

That's number 8 of 10.  Shoulda come aware at the first sign; turning water to blood, but when God hardens a heart, there ain't no softening. 

Environmental "pollution" is nothing compared to the price to be paid by an individual polluted soul awaiting a one on one audience with the Creator.

 

I’ll agree a call to awaken will certainly be in order.  Preferably well in advance.

 

Jmo

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:19 | 4565796 h0oS
h0oS's picture

Sacre Bleu! Tehran put in place the same number plate, cough, cough.. weeze several years back and it worked. To be fair the EU sanctions banning french car sales seem to be the real cause of the slight improvement in air quality in Tehran...

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:20 | 4565803 Grande Tetons
Grande Tetons's picture
“There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it. But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very poor and very happy.”

Ernest HemingwayA Moveable Feast

C'est vrai. 

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:46 | 4565901 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

A moveable feast indeed.  Papa at his best. Anyone who has been there is full of Paris stories.

We were walking across a neighborhood bridge on the left bank.  I picked my Lover up, and swung her around.

"What do you see?"

"I see Paris."

"Look again.  360 degrees.  Aim a camera anywhere, and you will take a drop dead beautiful picture."

Paris is like that.  It will take your breath away.

 

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 21:22 | 4565985 Grande Tetons
Grande Tetons's picture

La Liberté éclairant le monde. 

Paris, the home I never had in a world I never wanted

The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World; French: La Liberté éclairant le monde) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in the middle of New York Harbor, inManhattan, New York City. The statue, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886, was a gift to the United States from the people of France. The statue is of a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who bears a torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed the date of theAmerican Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. A broken chain lies at her feet. The statue is an icon of freedom and of the United States: a welcoming signal to immigrants arriving from abroad.


Tue, 03/18/2014 - 21:11 | 4565992 SmackDaddy
SmackDaddy's picture

I'll aim my dick anywhere and hope it takes a drop dead beautiful french whore

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 21:45 | 4566085 Grande Tetons
Grande Tetons's picture

Try her on for size.

http://blogue.virtu-oz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Putain-Cest-quoi-c...

What is this shit? No need to google translate. 

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 22:57 | 4566337 medium giraffe
medium giraffe's picture

I thought it was spelled 'Putin'.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:22 | 4565809 Spungo
Spungo's picture

That's not smog. It's smug!

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:52 | 4565923 Bonapartist
Bonapartist's picture

supposedly it's because there are so many diesel cars on the road over there

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:54 | 4565932 angryBuddhist
angryBuddhist's picture

Ironic how France advocates nuclear power so the air will be cleaner. I guess all those diesel fumes from millions of crappy designed French cars more than makes up for the difference.

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 11:32 | 4567780 Archduke
Archduke's picture

it's mostly the ludicrous number of two-stroke scooters.

european emmissions standards far surpass EPA norms.

I live in Paris. The best thing about the ban is the silence.
I'm not really noticing anymore pollution than is habitual.
just peace and quiet outdoors, but hell in congested metros.

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 18:43 | 4569834 Analyse2
Analyse2's picture

No.

Not only Paris, but all the North-East of France is concerned.

But not at all the South of France, nor the South-West - where there are also a lot of cars.

It is only a temporary climatic event (of a few days) with winds coming unusually from the East - where is located the german coal industry among others ...

 

 

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 20:59 | 4565946 swmnguy
swmnguy's picture

This is bad, but it's nothing like Beijing.  Or Shanghai, for that matter.  Paris got to 180-something on the index, during an atmospheric inversion pattern?  Beijing's off that scale almost all the time.  Like, well over 500.  Within hours in Beijing, my throat is sore, my eyes scratchy and my ears starting to fill.  Within a day or two everything you have reeks of coal, and after a week you're coughing up black stuff like you quit smoking 4 days ago.

It's terrible what's happening to Paris, but it's not Beijing.

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 21:08 | 4565957 SmackDaddy
SmackDaddy's picture

To the catacombs!  http://empiredelamort.com/charnels-and-ossuaries/olympus-digital-camera-6/

But seriously, could you imagine re-discovering that shit in the 60s and 70s.  Bet there were some fucking trippy ass parties down there!

Fuck it though, I'll never see it in person.  The last person from my family to go to Europe was my grandpappy back in '44....

Tue, 03/18/2014 - 22:40 | 4566290 John Wilmot
John Wilmot's picture

Paris is a beautiful city...

Too bad it's full of Parisians...

(perhaps this smog problem will clear that up)

 

 

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 01:00 | 4566570 MEAN BUSINESS
MEAN BUSINESS's picture

17&18MAR2014 Putin laid out his cards before the whole world regarding Crimea. He will lay them down again in Paris, 21 months from now, at COP 21.

Last chance Mr. Obama, best you get to work now.

twennny one, bitchez.

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 03:08 | 4566685 Rising Sun
Rising Sun's picture

Paris is a shithole - fucking socialists have mismanaged this one too.

 

How about some MOAR engineered congestion?????  MOAR idling vehicles????

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 08:05 | 4566898 AchtungAffen
AchtungAffen's picture

Someone here has never been to Paris... or out of his own state for that matter.

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