The daily average this Sunday at the San Basilio station was 70 micrograms per cubic meter
The persistence of high levels of PM10 pollutant particles has forced the Murcia City Council to activate Level 3 of the Protocol of measures to be adopted during episodes of air pollution, of an atmospheric alert situation.
The daily average this Sunday at the San Basilio station was 70 micrograms per cubic meter for PM10, exceeding the value 50 during the sixth consecutive day, which implies the registration of Alert Level 3 established in the protocol, according to sources from the Consistory in a statement.
The African dust intrusion event that affected the southeast of the peninsula from December 18 was expected to end on Friday, December 24. Currently this episode does not coincide with the prediction of an episode of intrusion of air masses of African origin over the Iberian Peninsula.
At this time, there is no information about possible predictions or episodes, so it cannot yet be said that the overcoming is due to Saharan intrusion. Certain meteorological conditions such as low temperatures, high relative humidity, calm winds, which occur during clear winter nights, can favor this type of event due to “thermal inversion”, a natural phenomenon that affects air circulation in the lower layers of the atmosphere, causing the accumulation of pollutants within the inversion layer without being able to disperse until dawn and solar radiation increases.
The councilor for Urbanism and Ecological Transition, Andrés Guerrero, held a meeting this Monday with municipal technicians from the different services involved in which the adoption of a series of measures has been agreed. With regard to the Health service, specific recommendations were issued for each risk group, such as, for example, communicating the contamination alert episode to health centers and hospitals and informing day centers of this circumstance.
Regarding the Sports service, it was approved to communicate to the sports centers, both public and private, that they be notified by public address of the overcoming, of the people at greater risk of being affected by the air pollution alert episode and the guidelines that should follow. In addition, the different sports federations will be contacted to recommend that they do not carry out physical activities outdoors while the air pollution episode lasts.
In sports centers it has been agreed to inform the alert situation through the public address system and advise visitors not to engage in physical activity. Those in charge of sports centers and lifeguards must remain vigilant in the event of any emergency situation that may arise among visitors and promptly report it to the nearest local police and / or health center.
In addition, all schools (public, subsidized and private), institutes, universities must be informed of the air pollution alert episode and the recommendations to be followed. In addition, all nursing homes and day centers must be informed of the alert episode.
For its part, the Local Police must ensure that circulation is as fluid as possible, avoiding traffic jams of motor vehicles in the city and neighboring districts and ensure that prolonged or unnecessary stops are not made with the engine running (waiting, loading and discharge, long / medium duration traffic lights). In addition, it is recommended that the loading and unloading work be carried out after 6:00 p.m. and with the vehicle engines turned off. In case level 3 remains activated for more than 48 hours, this recommendation could become an obligation.
The diversion of passing traffic has also been agreed so that it does not access the Ronda Oeste in communication with DGT and Guardia Civil; as well as the stoppage of works that generate pollutants in the city until the alert level is deactivated; and the suspension of all demolitions during this period, except those of urgent need. Asphalting or taring the streets during this period is also prohibited and it is recommended that the private vehicle is not used.
The City Council has also agreed to inform the DGT of the type of measure that will be taken and what restrictions on private vehicle traffic will be implemented so that they can publish it on their website, social networks and can report on the information panels of access to the city.
Likewise, the existence of people, especially the elderly and children, doing physical exercise will be monitored in parks and green areas and recommending them, under their responsibility, not to practice it. Likewise, coordination will be carried out with possible traffic restrictions made by other affected municipalities; and monitor the prohibition of agricultural stubble and margins.
For its part, the Tourism service must transmit an atmospheric alert announcement through the information panels located on public roads. Operations in the works that generate pollutants will also be prohibited and all demolitions will be suspended during this period, except those of urgent need.
Likewise, blowers are prohibited in cleaning tasks and cleaning the road surface on traffic roads and the City Council has also agreed to maximize capacity on lines with more capacity and to intensify the redistribution of the bicycle loan service. On the other hand, the Fire Fighting and Rescue Service must monitor the prohibition of stubble and agricultural margins.
The Traffic service must transmit the alert episode through the information panels located on public roads; At the same time, traffic will be managed (green waves system) in order to avoid traffic jams and give traffic light priority to public transport. On the other hand, the measures to prohibit parking in the ORA regulated area will not be adopted. This decision is made based on the provisions of the aforementioned Protocol (point 5.1.2).
The Mayor’s Office, for its part, will report with press releases to the most relevant media in the city: written press, radio and television. Likewise, it will notify through social networks.
An informative notice will also be included on the City Council’s website, prominently introducing an ‘atmospheric alert’ notice. The information will include specific data on the concentrations reached, date and hours of exceedance, stations where the exceedances have occurred, type of threshold / limit exceeded and forecast of the evolution of concentrations, as well as recommendations to the general population and to the most vulnerable population sectors.
Finally, the Provincial Traffic Headquarters will publish the atmospheric alert episode on its website, social networks and other informative channels, if applicable, as well as include it in the information panels of access to the city. It will also divert passing traffic so that it does not access the Ronda Oeste.
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