Heat wave: Belgium on ozone pollution alert until the end of the week
High temperatures rhyme with pollution. A heat wave has been underway in Belgium since the beginning of the week, with temperatures around 30 degrees across the country.
And the heat and the sun have an impact on air pollution. in son bulletin of the day, the interregional environmental unit predicts high ozone concentrations, with risks of exceeding the European threshold. This Thursday and until Sunday, the ozone threshold in the air could exceed 180 micrograms/m³.
It is especially Flanders which is the most at risk with a maximum between 160 and 180 micrograms / m³ of ozone expected Thursday and Friday. Generally, ozone concentrations will be low in the morning, and are expected to increase throughout the day as temperature increases. Air quality should gradually return to normal after the weekend.
The Interregional Environment Unit warns that high concentrations of ozone can cause, particularly in sensitive people, breathing difficulties during major efforts, irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, coughing, and can accentuate asthma in people who are prone to it. It therefore advises the elderly, children and other people sensitive to air pollution to avoid sustained physical effort between 12:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.