March 17, 2014

Air pollution in France – in pictures

As car ban takes effect in Paris, we bring pictures from around the country of how cities are coping with rising levels of pollution

People jog on the Esplanade du Trocadero in front of the Eiffel tower 4 in Paris. — People jog on the Esplanade du Trocadero in front of the iconic Eiffel tower, in Paris. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

Road signs recommend that motorists reduce their speed down due to air pollution on the Paris southern ring road — Road signs recommending motorists to reduce their speed due to air pollution on the Paris southern ring road. Over 30 departments in France have exceeded the maximum warning threshold for particulate pollution, prompting the French ecology minister to say that the air quality was ‘an emergency and a priority for the government.’ Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images

Polution level in Paris has reached the one of Beijing. — Roof of Beaubourg centre (left), Notre Dame cathedral (right) and Tour Montparnasse (centre) seen through haze. Pollution in Paris has reached the level of Beijing. Public transport in the city is free until 17 March. Photograph: Pierre Suu/Getty Images Photograph: Pierre Suu/Getty Images

Photo taken on March 14, 2014 from the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere shows Lyon through a haze of pollution. — A picture taken from the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere shows Lyon through a haze of pollution. Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images

A woman rides a Velo'V, Lyon's bike share system, with a scarf covering her nose and mouth during an episode of heavy pollution in central Lyon — A woman rides a Velo'V, Lyon's bike share system, with a scarf covering her nose and mouth to avoid breathing in polluted air. Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images

city of Grenoble and the Gresivaudan valley — Part of the city of Grenoble and the Gresivaudan valley. Photograph: Jean Pierre Clatot/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Jean Pierre Clatot/AFP/Getty Images

People stand in front of a tramway 2014 in the city of Grenoble — Some commuters use face mask as they walk past a tramway station in the city of Grenoble. Photograph: Jean Pierre Clatot/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Jean Pierre Clatot/AFP/Getty Images

Cars drive past a traffic board reading — Cars drive past a traffic board reading, ‘warning: air pollution, 90km/hr recommended’ near Rennes, western France. Photograph: Damien MeyerAFP/Getty Images Photograph: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images

A foggy view of the bay of Nice, known as — A foggy view of the bay of Nice, known as ‘Baie des Anges’, southeastern France. Photograph: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images

center of the northern France city of Lille as more than 30 departments in France are hit by maximum level pollution alerts — The centre of the northern France city of Lille under a hazy cloak. Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images

A Paris city information board which reads, — A Paris city information board reads: ‘Pollution – avoid cars; prefer public transport, take the bus or bike.’ Dangerous dose of particles from car fumes have also affected residents and visitors as many parts of the country, including the capital, were on maximum alert over air pollution. Photograph: Jacky Naegelen /Reuters Photograph: Jacky Naegelen /Reuters

Cars drive under a road sign reading'' 17/03 from 5h30 traffic for even numbers forbidden'' on the Parisian ring road, on March 17, 2014 as Paris resorted to drastic measures to curb soaring pollution levels by forcing all cars with number plates ending in even numbers off the road for the first time in two decades. Around 700 police officers were deployed to man 60 checkpoints around the French capital to ensure that only cars with number plates ending in odd numbers were out on the streets. — Cars drive under a road sign reading: ‘17/03 from 5h30 traffic for even numbers forbidden,’ on the Parisian ring road as Paris resorted to drastic measures to curb soaring pollution levels by forcing all cars with number plates ending in even numbers off the road for the first time in two decades. Around 700 police officers were deployed at 60 checkpoints around the French capital to ensure that only cars with number plates ending in odd numbers were on the streets. Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images

Police officers control cars with number plates ending in even numbers, on March 17, 2014 in Paris, as Paris resorted to drastic measures to curb soaring pollution levels — Police officers stop cars with number plates ending in even numbers, as part of a drive to limit vehicular pollution on Paris streets. Public transport has been free since the weekend to persuade Parisians to leave their cars at home. The state railway company, SNCF, warned on its website of packed suburban trains at peak hours as a result of the temporary policy. Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images

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