Air quality over the entire France

To stay healthy, this service allows you, from day to day, follow the signs of urban pollution. The information presented is provided by the Associations approved monitoring air quality (AASQA) and the Department of the Air ADEME *. If the studies last thirty years have shown a decrease certain forms of pollution (sulfur dioxide, lead, carbon monoxide), there is a resurgence of various respiratory problems: bronchial irritation, asthma in response to air pollution. Based on the study and evaluation of major pollutants, ATMO index for assessing the air quality. It varies from 1 (very good air quality) to 10 (very bad air quality).

Overcoming fear of the other

In France, the changes generally are - unfortunately - in times of acute crisis, five to midnight and violence. We need more dialogues and exchanges. Everything is viewed in terms of hostility and shocks, crammed with ideology. The paradox is that all this happens in a country where we have a lot of people informed, intelligent, as they say in France "brilliant" -- is the major compliment here as strong as it was considered heavy - to achieve results rather mediocre.

Illusions

Today, the influence we can have - not to be confused with radiation is the aura of the past - is that like it or not based on economic and commercial power. We are in this respect far behind Germany. In a way, this way of saying that we are the fourth power is insufficient, because the former is far ahead of the second and third are far behind the first but far ahead of us. Indeed, the GNP of the United States was 7690 billion in 1997, the Japanese and Germany 4772 Poster 2319, is 793 billion dollars more than France. With a GDP of 1.526 trillion dollars, the French are certainly in the fourth row, but after five or six competitors, including the United Kingdom and very close to Italy
Since the beginning of the oil crisis (1973), no French leader has yet had the courage to say where we are. That is, the 1960s are over. If the French want the labor market hiring more, he'll have to have less stringent laws for protection. The demographics that we are an aging society in which young people are often unemployed 18 to 25 years, if not up to 30 years. During the last 3O years, no fundamental reform has been made. The only "reform" were for manners, where the legislature has followed the evolution of society. The sluggishness of the state are considerable.

The art of putting cantilevered

In Eastern Europe, the Americans - who were absolutely correct in their logic - extended Treaty Organization North Atlantic (NATO) to three new countries from Central and Eastern Europe: Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary at a time when Europeans were unable to give any life to the European Union (WEU). France started the overhang when the government of Alain Juppé (1995 - 1997) has proposed to return to NATO provided to obtain - that the Americans could not in any way give us - management Mediterranean. For Washington, this command is vital because with him the sixth U.S. fleet reaches the coast of Lebanon and Israel. Finally, the crisis in Rwanda in 1994 - and in general Great Lakes - marks the beginning of a depletion indisputable French positions on the African continent, eg in Zaire. It still awaits a comprehensive reassessment of our African policy. because it has become the preserve of certain French networks.

What Union?

Europe seems to me the only possible way to have any weight in the XXI century Especially around a dynamic core and not an extension absurd as we are proposing. Given the way things are parties to a kind of free-market improved trade with one currency and an embryo of armed force it may cast doubt on the ability to succeed in the European process as a political entity. More, there will be more and more difficult to Europe. It was desirable that we make a smaller Europe with a core of half a dozen countries, which would aggregate - the conditions laid down by the half-dozen - other countries. It is known, the number of participants increases, there is inertia. Any group dynamics knows that.

Germany has turned the page

It should be noted that Germany is strengthening not only economically but gradually emerges from his guilt in respect of the Second World War, since those who were 20 years in 1945 are generally in the conduct of business . Germany will soon conduct a foreign policy to match its resources. Helmut Kohl was probably the last chancellor Francophile and it is likely that the German policy change forward. It is possible that the Germans had enough of the French travel first class with a second ticket. Germany will change roles, gain self-esteem, politically speaking louder. The economic weight of Germany is significant in Central Europe.

WEEK SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Buy a toy is nothing trivial: a single view of productivity, many brands of toys or relocate their businesses rely on Chinese manufacturers. In fact, 70% of plastic toys sold in Europe come from manufacturers in Southeast Asia. These are often just looking at vis-à-vis the dangers of their production standards imposed in Europe, it is our responsibility, authorities, customs, traders and consumers to exercise caution unbounded face counterfeiting can be most harmful to children. One can not deny, safety standards, particularly since the 1989 decree on toys imported and sold in France are very strict. Legislation which the European Commission will not hesitate to clarify and strengthen requirements following the withdrawal of millions of toys "Made in China" the U.S. toy giant Mattel in 2007. The CE (must legibly and indelibly), intended to be a guarantee of the toy to reference standards, can not alone provide certainty about product safety. Indeed, the "control" of compliance with these standards can be performed by any laboratory or laboratories Chinese private manufacturers. The standard "NF", for its optional, is an additional guarantee for the consumer. Not content to meet the standards, the company applies this logo undertakes to monitor its products through independent laboratories specialized. But it concerns only certain toys, such as porters and lint.

The world today is what it is

This kind of sentence reassures farmers. I am not a farmer despite envy. Conclude. A Black was murdered by three monkeys d Germany. They are finally punished. It is marked in the newspapers. The prison will be no spectator zoo. So much better. At the same time, water on Mars, the speed of ethernet, the price of petrol and dictatorship in Corsica. And above all, "returned without a problem." Yes, this is September, when the window opens to the west and north enough to not have cold feet in the shit. That and it is eternal. Let's continue by repeating, with ultimately always a trouble any, chance of rain that BOUSILLE tropical greenhouses, and again, people to bear. The decor is outdated seasons seasons, the machines turn the red lights themselves that are gray, knows why. The consensus is weather and that's it. We advance. I take belly.

Ministerial Meeting in Israel on a possible prisoner exchange

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened his senior ministers Monday to decide on a possible prisoner exchange with Hamas militants, against the soldier Gilad Schalit. He also received the relatives of the captive.

The prime minister and ministers have met three times Sunday and also Monday. The question of an exchange dividing the seven officials, Mr. Netanyahu could submit the issue to a vote of his cabinet in full force. The Franco-Israeli soldier aged 23 was detained for over three years in the Gaza Gaza militants close to Hamas. He had been abducted in a cross-border raid that ended in the deaths of two soldiers in June 2006. If approved, the prisoner exchange would be within 48 hours to allow the objectors to present their legal objections. Dozens of demonstrators have erected a tent outside the official residence of Prime Minister urging the Government to conclude an agreement.

Ministerial meeting

The parents of Gilad Schalit met with Benjamin Netanyahu after the ministerial meeting. No evidence has filtered through the discussions. Before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister, Aviva Schalit pleaded on Army Radio for a decision in the day. She hoped that the ministers "understand that their vote will mean either a death sentence for Gilad, a release." In October, for the first time since the abduction, his family was able to see Gilad Schalit in a video posted by Hamas. The latter said last month that all groups in the Gaza Strip have agreed to suspend the rocket attacks against Israel. That has not stopped some from fire, which the Israeli army responded. The prisoner exchanges are controversial in Israel, some fearing that it encourages activists to remove more hostages or former detainees commit new attacks, as was seen in the past. The Jewish state wants well as some of the released prisoners do not return to the Gaza Strip.

Exchanges of prisoners

Exchanges of prisoners are controversial in Israel, some fearing that it encourages activists to remove more hostages or former inmates from committing new attacks, as was seen in the past. The Jewish state wants well as some of the released prisoners do not return to the Gaza Strip. For Palestinians, the release of hundreds of men, women and youth constitute an important victory. It could also lead to an easing of the embargo imposed by Israel and Egypt to the Gaza Strip since the Islamist movement Hamas has taken power by force in June 2007. The blockade significantly impedes the reconstruction of Gaza after the Israeli military offensive in the winter of 2008-2009. A Palestinian source close to the matter, the prisoners could be released in two stages. A first group of 450 would be freed, while Schalit would be handed over to the Egyptians and then transferred to Israel. The others were released a few weeks or months later. AP

Air!

Large schools are people who will no longer be questioned from the time they graduated. However, life is dynamic. There are people who did nothing to twenty five years and can be extraordinary ten years later. There are people who have not made the schools in question and who can bring something new. The fact that one can read the card of someone aged 50 "Alumnus of Polytechnic, is a high grotesque. We need more plasticity.

Developing teamwork

Add to this a national characteristic: the Franco-French rivalry. There is no teamwork or very little. In Anglo-Saxon, teamwork is so normal, it has been prepared. Here, we maintain our habit to hide our copy to the neighbor is not looking. This behavior is embedded. We see in departmental rivalries where absolute rather bury a folder to circulate. All this is cons-productive. There are cultural habits very deep in there, some will tell you that it's very "Gallic".

Carmelite Order

The Carmelite Order has now been reform of the 16th century two distinct branches. The Carmelites and the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance (which have not adopted the reform) have recently made their resettlement in Bourges in France and Nantes. The Discalced Carmelites and the Discalced Carmelites, from reform of St. Therese the numbers are approximately 4 000 brothers and sisters 12 000 on five continents. Some lay in the Communities of Carmelite life as spirituality, help Caramel to accomplish its mission: to lead women and men today on ways of prayer and encounter with God.

France asks UN to act against those responsible for massacres of Conakry

Deputy Ambassador of France to the UN asked, Wednesday, December 23, the Security Council to act quickly to bring to justice those responsible for the massacre of 28 September in Conakry, called a "crime against humanity" by a UN report. "The ICC must be seized. Impunity can not be an option," he said.
Shortly before, the foreign minister of Guinea has denounced the "unacceptable interference" by Bernard Kouchner in cases of Guinea. The head of French diplomacy "was attached to the back of the head of the Guinean government in his country a threat of civil war. Such a statement from the Foreign Minister of a sovereign country to the Head of 'State of a sovereign country astonished, strikes and shameful ", said Minister of Guinea, Alexander Cécé Loua, regretting the words that are" undermining everything that the people [Guinean] holds most dear: their dignity. "
The junta leader, Captain Dadis Moussa Camara, remains in hospital in Rabat, nearly three weeks after being shot by his aide de camp in Conakry. Bernard Kouchner had said Tuesday, before the French deputies that he was better than "Mr. Camara Dadis rest in bed in Morocco and not return it" in Guinea, "because it is capable - just [by] his back - to trigger a civil war, and we do not need. "

INEQUALITY AND DEPENDENCY IN TODAY'S WORLD: INFANT MORTALITY

The infant mortality rate is often used as an indicator of the status of a country's development in the field of health. Infant mortality refers to deaths of children born alive during the first year of life. The infant mortality rate is usually based on the number of infant deaths per 1 000 live births in a given year.

I DIVISION OF THE WORLD POPULATION

The Earth is populated by 6 billion people, 40% in Asia with two great centers of population: * East Asia: China, Korea, Japan * South Asia: India Other homes are in europe (500 billion), the North - Eastern States - States. Vast areas are almost uninhabited. Regions with strong climatic constraints, such as cold (Siberia), drought (Sahara), excessive moisture (the Amazon), or severe physical constraints (Himalayas) are sparsely populated.
However, natural factors do not explain everything because some regions to climatic and physical constraints are very difficult populated: dry regions such as Texas, humid regions (Indonesia), mountain regions (Andes). There is a coastalisation stand (stand was made from odds) that the current development of global trade favors.

The different growth

The population growth is not the same from state to state. We can distinguish 2 groups of countries: * The North -> low or negative growth, * The South -> much have strong growth. There are more differences than in the north. Africa stands out. All these differences are due to the position of each country in demographic transition. Northern countries have completed their demographic transition. To the South, some have ended (India, China), others are in late transition and other, as in Africa, are in transition. Under this heading, the population of these countries is either young or older. The countries 'young' population in transition face the needs of a growing population. They therefore have problems of development.

Development

A developed country is a country that manages to satisfy basic needs of its population (health, housing, education, etc ...). Today, we measure the development level of a country by placing a scale on which the HDI (Human Development Index). This index includes 3 criteria: longevity, knowledge and standard of living. We note that most countries with high HDI are located in the northern hemisphere, hence the expression "North - South". Two country groups stand out: * high HDI: Northern countries, rich countries, industrialized countries, developed countries. The population of these countries represents 20% of world population but consume 80% of global wealth. * Medium or low HDI; South, poor countries, countries of the third - world countries development.

NORTH OF AN INCREASINGLY HETEROGENEOUS

The North consists of 3 "centers" that are centers of leadership in the global economy. They control the flow core (pattern of trade, goods, people, capital, information). These three centers or triads are the United States, the Western Europe and Japan. Other northern states are less important place less importance such as Canada or Australia and others are in a state of dependence vis - à - vis the triad: Eastern Europe and Russia. Finally, some states are newly incorporated as the NICs (newly industrializing countries) in Asia is called the 4 dragons.

THE DIVERSITY OF "SOUTH"

A first group of oil exporting countries located in the Arabian peninsula and which have very high incomes. Countries that have a strong economy is fairly diversified. These are the NICs or middle-income countries. There are those who have a large area, a large population like Brazil, Mexico, Algeria and who instead have a small territory but have very dynamic industrial sectors, such as Thailand, Malaysia which is called small or baby Dragons Tigers. China and India are major powers capable of living independently. About fifty states located primarily in Africa and whose standard of living declines. These are the LDCs (Least Developed Countries).

The cat in the world today

All those and all those who live with a cat (or cat with them) know what I mean. The holiday period as expected, turning quickly tear when leaving mistigri, to give to friends or leave the board. Those sad eyes, mewing plaintively and the particular vengeance upon your return, the indifference or even scorn you would almost lose the desire to leave. We must solve it, it will make you drool, but it is inevitable to reduce the stress of separation, you can always choose a destination that will purr in the lungs of cats that bite you.

The air pollution has various effects on health and the environment is a local phenomenon, continental and global

The air pollution has various effects on health and the environment is a local phenomenon, continental and global heating, evaporation of solvents and hydrocarbons, fumes from factories and gas produced by vehicles are the source of air pollution. Getting added to the indoor or the offices of tobacco smoke, fumes from heaters individual kitchens, radon, ... etc.. The air pollution is both an affront to our quality of life and our health. It is also harmful to the environment and the atmosphere (acid rain, photochemical pollution, the hole in the ozone layer, greenhouse effect, ...). The geographic scale relevant to analyze the phenomena of air pollution ranging from very local (eg odors, effects of particles, benzene, health ...) global (eg greenhouse effect caused by emissions of carbon dioxide) through regional phenomena or Continental (acid rain or photochemical pollution - ozone formation for example).

Our cities are polluted?

The pollution is mainly in large cities or industrial sites, but it varies in time and space. Since the 70s, there was a significant improvement in air quality and pollution are some way of 'be controlled. These include pollution by sulfur in most French cities. But today, most of us are exposed to pollution from cars and road transport. The proximity of many industrial sites is affected by discharges from factories. In space, air quality varies even within the city. It is rather good in protected areas and places where traffic is low. It becomes bad when you are in an area of significant traffic.
Other factors can affect the air quality. Examples of weather. How about the air quality? By the ATMO index ranging from 1 (excellent) to 10 (horrible), which gives an average over the city. It is calculated from the measured concentrations of major pollutants like sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone and particulates. Moreover, the development of networks for measuring air quality, will in future to better understand the state of pollution and its distribution.

What are the effects of air pollution on health?

The air is essential to life, but it can have harmful effects if the quality is bad. Pollution is an immediate danger to health, but also an effect that is amplified over the years. The people most sensitive, such as children, the elderly, heavy smokers, people with heart or lungs are most affected by air pollution. For them, the pollution may promote disease, aggravate some, and sometimes even hasten death. The effects of pollution on health increases with concentrations of pollutants in air and duration of exposure . That is why it is advisable for sensitive people, if pollution episode, limit their physical exertion, not to leave their homes and, of course, to quit. It is possible to ask their doctor if concerned about her health or that of those children. The regulation defines certain indicators of pollution, levels of reference to guide public policy. These limit values and alert thresholds.

Air pollution: poor fetus!

The pollutants in the air, especially those from combustion processes (traffic, heating), would impair fetal growth. The birth weight babies and their head circumference would be thereby reduced. The long-term consequences of these disorders, as well as biological mechanisms by which these pollutants could affect the development of unborn baby, were misidentified. This work, conducted by researchers at The mixed INSERM-Université de Grenoble 823 "Institute of Oncology / Development" in collaboration with the CHU de Nancy, Poitiers and researchers from Inserm U780, Villejuif, were recently published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
The study involved 280 pregnant women in the cohort EDEN mother-child, in whom fetal growth was followed at the end of each trimester of pregnancy and birth. In mid-pregnancy, the volunteers wore a device to quantify the levels of benzene in ambient air. With this, it was possible to obtain data from individual exposure to air pollutants. And this work has to take into account women's exposure to pollution, not only outside but also in their homes, their workplace or in transport.
The researchers found the influence, already known, the duration of pregnancy, maternal corpulence and passive smoking on fetal growth. Adjusting for these factors, they showed that the effect on head circumference was evident from the late second trimester. The association between air pollution and fetal growth was observed for women in the general population, exposure levels often encountered in the French cities of medium size. These results confirm those of an earlier study conducted by the same team, but for which pollution data were from measurements in outdoor air without taking account of direct exposure to pollutants in indoor air. According to these researchers, air pollution could affect some biological functions of pregnant women, limiting exchanges between mother and fetus, and therefore alters the growth of the latter.

Changes in chemical characteristics of air.

Air pollution can be produced by - the fumes - the combustion heaters providing domestic and urban - the exhaust from automobiles (1) and all engines - The burning of waste outside of the planned facilities therefor; - The flight in the wind products stored without special precautions.
These different sources of pollution sent into the air of dust and gases more or less dangerous. The various dust, particles of unburned carbon, living germs (bacteria, mold spores, etc..) Can accumulate over some cities and thus form a sort of gray cap to float altitudes between 1 500 and 2 500 m and can absorb some solar radiation (20% in summer and 50% in winter).

Noise pollution

Noise pollution is more dangerous than was believed by those who are not direct victims, or are unaware of the physiological and psychological disorders which is the origin and occur more or less long term. The characteristics in decibels Environmental noise can be analyzed in relation to references provided by the "barometer of noise." Barometer of 120 dBA noise Plane on the runway. 110 Orchestra Pop music. 100 Breaker (1 m) Motorcycle full speed (7 m). 90 former Metro Truck (7 m). coffee grinder mixer (60 cm). 80 Carrefour animated. 70 Conversation loudly seen at 50 cm. Residence near a highway . 50 Conversation perceived to 3 m window closed on a busy street. 40 room stay calm. 20 Rustling leaves.

The air pollution: emissions to concentrations

The air pollution is characterized by the presence of atmospheric gases or particles that cause a change which may have adverse effects on health or the environment. Emissions of gases and particles are of natural (volcanic eruptions, decomposition of organic matter, forest fires) or human (industry, transport, agriculture, residential heating ...). In the atmosphere, these substances undergo various changes under the effect of weather conditions (wind gradients temperature ...). It follows other pollutants and geography of pollution emissions of different origin. Pollutants called "primary" pollutants emitted directly by sources: nitrogen monoxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, dust, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds. To these are added pollutants "certificate" from physico-chemical properties of gases under the influence of special weather conditions: ozone, nitrogen dioxide ... concentrations of pollutants in the air are monitored by devices measurement and analysis.

The air pollution by sulfur dioxide

The SO2 in the air in France amounted to 446 000 tonnes in 2007 against 1.33 million tonnes in 1990 and 3.2 million tonnes in 1980. In 2007, the major emitters of sulfur dioxide are energy conversion (49%) and manufacturing (33%). The sharp decline since 1980 (-86%) due to lower consumption of 'fossil fuels following the implementation of the power program, for actions to conserve energy and use less fuel sulfur. The latest advances (-67% between 1990 and 2007) result of the actions by manufacturers to promote the use of lower sulfur fuels and energy efficiency of plants and the industrialization of the French economy. Transport (-97%) and manufacturing (-66%) are the sectors most affected by this decline.
The international commitments of France imposes a further reduction in SO2 emissions. The Gothenburg Protocol of 1 December 1999 sets a maximum level of emissions for France 400 000 tonnes in 2010. The European directive of October 23, 2001 provides for an emissions cap of 375 000 tonnes in 2010. To meet these commitments, France leverages technology to limit sulfur content of liquid fuels and lower emission limits for combustion plants.

The air pollution inside homes and health

More than half the world's population rely on dung, wood, crop waste or coal to meet its basic energy needs. Cooking and heating with solid fuels of this type using open fires or stoves without chimneys pollute the air indoors. This smoke in homes contains all sorts of pollutants harmful to health, including small particles of soot or dust that could penetrate deep into the lungs. The smoke in poorly ventilated dwellings may contain a hundred times more small particles than what is considered acceptable for outdoor air. The exposure of women and children is particularly important because they are the ones who spend the most time near the fireplace. Each year, the air pollution inside homes is responsible for the deaths of 1.6 million people - or 1 death every 20 seconds.

Effects on health particularly deadly

The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted an assessment of the role played by various risk factors in disease burden, it became clear that air pollution inside homes is the eighth largest risk factors the most important and is responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease. The air pollution inside homes due to the use of solid fuels is responsible for 1.6 million deaths worldwide attributable to pneumonia, chronic respiratory and lung cancer -- the global burden of disease attributable to it (calculated adjusted life years of disability or DALYs, a measure combining years of life lost due to disability and death because of) being five times greater than the load morbidity due to air pollution outside.
In developing countries where mortality is high, the smoke inside the house is responsible for about 3.7% of the global burden of disease, making it the cause of death after the most deadly malnutrition, unprotected sex and lack of safe water and sanitation.

Pneumonia and other acute lower respiratory

Worldwide, pneumonia and other acute lower respiratory represent the single largest cause of death among children under five years. Exposure to air pollution inside homes more than doubles the risk of pneumonia and is thus responsible for more than 900 000 of the 2 million annual deaths from pneumonia. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Women exposed to smoke inside the houses have three times as likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as chronic bronchitis than women who cook and heat with electricity, gas and d ' other cleaner fuels. Among males, exposure to this neglected risk factor nearly doubles the risk of chronic respiratory diseases. Thus, the air pollution inside homes is responsible for approximately 700 000 deaths in the world on 2.7 million attributable to COPD.

Disproportionate effects on children and women

Household practices regarding energy use varies greatly from one region to another world, and therefore the number of victims of air pollution inside homes. While over two-thirds of child deaths due to smoke in the houses due to acute lower respiratory tract are observed in the WHO regions of Africa and South-Eastern Asia, more 50% of COPD deaths attributable to air pollution inside homes occurs in the Western Pacific Region.
In most societies, it is women who are responsible for cooking and, as required by the local cuisine, they spend between three and seven hours per day in the kitchen preparing food. Thus, 59% of all deaths attributable to air pollution in homes are women. Young children are often carried on the backs of their mothers or installed near the warm hearth. Consequently, toddlers spend long hours breathing the smoke in the house during the first year of life, when their airways grow and where they are, therefore, particularly vulnerable to agents hazardous pollutants. Therefore 56% of all deaths from air pollution to indoor occur among children under five.

The Millennium Development Goals and the international

Tackling air pollution inside houses linked to domestic use of energy is consistent with the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly with regard to the reduction of child mortality ( Objective 4), gender equality and empower women (Goal 3), promotion of income generation and eradicating extreme poverty (Goal 1) and research of environmental sustainability (Goal 7). The WHO considers the "proportion of population using solid fuels for cooking as an indicator for measuring progress towards integrating the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs of the country. Yet, the central role of household energy is not taken into consideration in policies designed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The work of WHO

The WHO, which is the agency responsible for public health worldwide, promotes the integration of health policies and programs and national energy. WHO collects and evaluates data concerning the effects of household energy on health and the effectiveness of interventions on improving the health status of children, women and other vulnerable groups.

Emissions of heavy metals in air

The main heavy metals emitted into the atmosphere by human activities are zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), selenium (Se) arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd). These pollutants can be highly toxic and damage the soil, surface waters, forests and crops. Between 1990 and 2007, emissions of heavy metals have declined sharply, particularly for lead (-97%) due to its suppression in gasoline, chromium (-90%), zinc (-86%) and mercury (-70%). Emissions of copper only slightly decreased during the same period (-4.5%) due to increased road and rail traffic at the source of most emissions (catenary wear and brake pads ). Under the Aarhus Protocol on Heavy Metals adopted June 24, 1998, France undertook to limit its emissions of lead, cadmium and mercury in 2000 to a level lower than 1990. These goals were already achieved before the coming into force of this Protocol (December 29, 2003).

Pesticides in the atmosphere

The air contamination by pesticides is a new component of air pollution that is misinformed. This is due in part to the recent awareness of this form of pollution, lack of standards on pesticides in the air, but also the diversity of active molecules used. Pesticides are intentionally applied to large scale in the environment, destroy the plants considered pests and protect crop plants and crops from attack by insects, fungi, rodents. Pesticides can enter the atmosphere directly in the application but after their filing volatilizing or under the influence of wind. Currently, the lack of any national or European standards on pesticides in the air, authorized associations to monitor the air quality (AASQA) drew up regional lists of molecules to be monitored. All studies conducted by AASQA show, without exception, the presence of pesticides in the atmosphere. The percentage of detecting specific molecules is never zero. It may even reach 100% (when the molecule is observed in all samples).

The ozone pollution in Europe

The implementation of Directive 92/72/EEC has led to the installation of stations measuring ozone increasing. The directive calls for particular stations to be placed in sites where the risk of approaching or exceeding the information threshold or alert is the highest. Ozone concentrations are highest in summer meet, due to more intense sunlight. From April to August 2005, the frequency of exceedances is comparable to previous years. The maximum time was reached in Portugal (361 ug/m3). Hourly averages between 300 and 360 μg/m3 were registered in France, Greece, Italy and Spain. The alert threshold of 240 μg/m3 as an hourly average was exceeded for 127 hours in nine countries (Austria Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain).
The alert threshold of 240 μg/m3 as an hourly average was exceeded for 127 hours in nine countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain). The information threshold of population of 180 microgramme/m3 average time has been exceeded during the summer of 2005 in all member states of the EU except in Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden. Thus, 3 056 exceedances of information have been observed in 794 stations from a total of 1 865. In the other Member States, the number of days with at least one exceedance was observed during summer 2005 ranged from 1 in Estonia to 86 in Italy. He was 54 in France. Across the European Union, 794 stations (42%) experienced at least one exceedance (against 36% in 2001 and 25% in 2000).

Critical levels of ozone for protecting vegetation

Ozone is a secondary pollutant formed under the effect of solar ultraviolet acting on precursors (NOx, NMVOC, CO). The impact of pollution on ecosystems arises when concentrations exceed certain thresholds. The high ozone concentrations can affect key physiological processes of plants (photosynthesis, respiration) and reduce the production plant. AOT40 (Accumulated Over Threshold of 40 ppb) is an indicator of exposure of plants to the ozone. It represents the accumulated concentrations exceeding the threshold of 40 ppb (parts per billion), or 80 μg/m3.h during the period of plant growth and during daylight hours. The daylight hours are defined as the hours when global radiation received by the Earth are at least 50 Watt/m2. For crops and natural vegetation that have sensitivities to ozone equivalent, the calculation is carried out between May 1 and July 31. For forests, the AOT40 is determined for the period 1 April to 30 September.
The goal of protection of vegetation and crops (6 000 μg/m3.h three months) has been exceeded in most rural sites in 2005. Especially in rural sites in southern and eastern countries that we meet the highest standards. Conversely, western countries experiencing levels generally below the goal of protection of vegetation and crops. The target value (18 000 μg/m3.h) was exceeded mainly in the south due to a combination of factors favorable to ozone production: strong sunshine, traffic and industries supporting the production of precursors.