Fertilisers,nitrates, manure in the water.

France has been convicted of failing to improve the quality of its groundwater, meaning it's the third time since 2001 the European Court of Justice has ordered the French clean up their act.

According to the study most substandard water in France is loaded with pesticides and nitrates from fertilizer and livestock manure. That is the case in 63 percent of instances where homes receive polluted water - which represents around 900,000 people.

However pesticides and nitrates are not the only substances polluting French water.

The study also pointed to the presence of selenium, a natural, but toxic, substance that appears when groundwater supplies are over used.   Taken from the Local

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Paris smog, it is the fault of Germany!

Writing in the financial newspaper Les Echos this week writer Didier Julienne, a specialist in natural resources, said: “On European maps of particle pollution this week, the winds from the east, coming from Germany, are heavily laden with particles."

The writer pointed to the "unfavourable environmental situation" in Germany because of the increased use of coal powered stations, especially those in the west, near the borders with France, the Netherlands and Belgium.

“Effectively Germany is smoking us out,” Julienne said, adding that the last few days are an ominous sign of what is to come.

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How long will we be able to use the " dog car"

THE price of diesel at the pumps at service stations across France has fallen to its lowest level for four months. The average price of diesel per litre is now 1.4 cents lower than the previous week at €1.31, according to figures published by the Ministry of Ecology and Energy. 
Val says   We have two old Mercedes bought not long after we arrived here, the cabriolet is petrol and the break which we call the dog car is diesel. I wonder how many years it will be before the break is banned ?
We are holding on to the  two automatic cars running them into the ground as they have both had adaptions for a disabled driver (Malc having an artificial leg) I can see diesel cars becoming pariahs before too long and if they cause this amount of pollution quite right too.
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The smog is BAD in Paris

France is to limit vehicle use in the capital Paris from Monday morning amid a spike in pollution to health-threatening levels, the French government announced Saturday.

A system of “alternating traffic”, whereby vehicle use is restricted to alternate days depending on licence plate numbers, will come into effect in Paris and its surrounding suburbs from 5.30 am (04.30 GMT) Monday morning.         Val says   I am surprised people are not wearing face masks walking and cycling around Paris                                                
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Sun also brings air pollution in Cities and along the Med.

Residents and visitors to the French capital are basking in an unseasonal streak of sunshine. But as the T-shirts and sunglasses appear, so have the dire warnings of air pollution.

Weather forecasters on Monday said Paris would enjoy sunny skies and an average temperature of 19°C (66°F), but pollution watchdog group Airparif simultaneously announced that the city would experience a potentially dangerous level of air pollution.

Airparif, which takes readings of Paris’ air quality from a hot-air balloon that rises up to 300 metres above the city, raised the pollution level to “high” at the start of the working week.    Comments to taglines2@gmail.com