The red alert for fine particles will be maintained on Thursday in Bouches-du-Rhône and Vaucluse, the air quality measurement organization AtmoSud indicated on Wednesday.
Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse and Var were already affected by "combustion" type air pollution with PM10 fine particles on Wednesday, but in Var, the red alert will be lifted on Thursday, thanks to the improvement in weather conditions.
Air quality will improve on Thursday "over the eastern half of the region due to the formation of a westerly flow over the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes", AtmoSud details in a press release.
In Bouches-du-Rhône, air quality will continue to deteriorate on Wednesday "due to stable and poorly dispersive weather conditions, with pollutant emissions linked to domestic heating and road traffic at the end of the day", the department's prefecture indicated in a press release.
The Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture and the Vaucluse prefecture have taken a number of measures such as lowering the maximum authorized speeds by 20 km/h.
In Bouches-du-Rhône, the measures also include a "reduction in ship speeds of 10 knots near the docks and 8 knots inside the docks" in Marseille and Fos-sur-Mer.
The authorities also recommend reducing intense physical activities and limiting travel and the use of motor vehicles.
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