1. Air quality management in France
Focus on transports
Laurence Rouïl

2. France still concerned by PM episodes
Limit values for PM10 exceeded each year in several french cities
France is facing infringement actions and must reinforce control policies
Number of days when the daily limit value (50 mg/m3) is exceeded (source: Bilan de la qualité de l’air 2014)

3. Local action plans and air pollution episode management
Local action plans develop where exceedance situations are registered. All activity sectors are concerned.
A new French law (arrêté Mesures d’Urgence, 26th march 2014) states :
Information threshold for PM10 = 50 mg/m3
Alert threshold for PM10 = 80 mg/m3
Short term actions to be taken by local authorities when exceedances are forecasted
Many issues with the implementation of alternate driving schemes in Paris area

4. Short term control measures adopted in France : March 2014
Measures adopted in various activity sectors:
Road transport :
speed limits (6 regions)
reinforcement of controls (4 regions)
city access forbidden for heavy duty vehicles (Ile de France)
Free access to public transports (13 cities)
Free residential parking
Industry:
- Voluntary reduction of activities (3 regions)
Residential heating
- recommendations for limiting wood burning (5 regions)
Agriculture:
- Warning messages to encourage limitation of fertilizers spreading (5 regions)

5. And the diesel issue ?
In medias, PM episodes are generally associated to the specificity of the French diesel park and PM emissions from diesel cars.
But a large number of exceedances results from increase in ammonium nitrate concentrations
So the problem relies more on NH3 and NOx
Key issue will be the underestimation of NOx emissions from diesel cars, for both PM and NO2 exposure