FAQ

What can we do to fight against air pollution?

One in five deaths around the world is attributable to outdoor air pollution yet politicians are struggling to remedy the situation. In France, the government has even been found at fault by the Court of Justice of the European Union and the French Council of State for not doing enough, while air pollution causes more than 40,000 premature deaths every year. What’s to blame? Natural phenomena certainly contribute (pollen, forest fires, soil erosion, volcanic eruptions, etc.), but most of the damage is caused by human activity (agriculture, industry, transport, construction, etc.), which generates gases and fine particles. In some parts of France transport is the worst culprit, in others, agriculture comes top of the list. In the fight against outdoor air pollution in France, measures must now be taken on domestic heating and road transport, which are respectively responsible for half and a quarter of fine particle emissions in Ile-de-France.

More energy moderation in construction

Energy moderation is about reducing energy consumption, fighting against waste and improving the energy efficiency of buildings. An example is the renovation of energy-inefficient buildings to limit the power required to heat or cool living spaces. In France, there is much to be done: 5.2 million homes have been identified as energy-inefficient.

Clean energy development

People are now being discouraged to heat their homes with wood or fuel oil. It is better to opt for renewable solutions (solar, wind, hydraulic, geothermal energy, etc.) because any activity that burns fossil fuels has an impact on the quality of the air we breathe.

Greener transport

42% of people who work less than one kilometre from home still use their car to get there. Moving away from this car-based approach and encouraging people to walk, ride a bike or scooter, or use public transport is a major challenge in the fight against air pollution. It requires stepping up public transport availability, especially in large cities that are keenly affected by vehicle pollution. It’s worth noting however that the air inside railway tunnels is on average three times more polluted than the air outside, due to fine friction particles (produced by wear on brakes, tyres and rails). Efforts must be made in this area as well to ensure that public transport users can breathe good quality air.

Driving down the impact of road transport

To fight against air pollution, measures must be taken to reduce the impact of road vehicles. From 2035, petrol- and diesel-powered cars will be banned from sale. At the same time, European standards now regulate nitrogen oxide emissions from exhaust gases. The future Euro 7/VII standard, which is expected to come into force in 2025 will – for the first time – regulate fine particles generated by braking, limiting them to 7 mg/km. This is a step forward, because a car’s braking system emits six times more particles than its exhaust pipe. And solutions do exist! One is the TAMIC®, which sucks away 70% to 90% of the fine particles that are generated by braking, to considerably improve air quality in urban areas. In the fight against air pollution, a combination of factors must come into play, including strict regulations, collective efforts and promising new technologies. This range of solutions has a single goal: to safeguard everyone’s health.

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What are fine particles?

The term “fine particle” refers to an aggregate of polluting chemical compounds created during combustion, friction or chemical reactions. Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and desert dust: fine particles can occur naturally. But most fine particles are generated by human activity. How? Mainly from road traffic (exhaust gases and abrasion caused by brakes on tyres and the road), home heating, and industrial and agricultural emissions.

What is the main cause of air pollution?

As we inhale 15,000 litres of air every day, we are continually exposed to air pollution, especially in large cities. These gases and fine particles are not only harmful to our health, but they also damage the environment and ecosystems and accelerate climate change. Where does air pollution come from? Although pollutants may be of natural origin: pollens, forest fires, sand mists, soil erosion, and volcanic eruptions generate pollution over which we have very little control, human activity is the main source of air pollution. That is evidenced by the sharp decline in air quality from the 19th century, with the development of industry and road traffic.

How can you protect yourself from fine particles?

When they are inhaled, microscopic fine particles are toxic in how they can affect the lungs, heart, and cells. They can cause inflammation and exacerbate the risks of respiratory, pulmonary, cardiovascular diseases and even various types of cancer. To combat these emissions and the diseases they cause, there is a need for far-reaching public policies. Some measures are easy to implement, such as limiting the use of cars, capturing brake particles, avoiding congested areas, finding out about air quality indicators and taking care to protect your respiratory and pulmonary health.