Paris Air Pollution Has Reached A Critical Level

During the first week of December this year, abnormal weather conditions have resulted in unusually still air in Paris, trapping pollutants in the region. As a result, the city has taken the extraordinary measure of making public transport temporarily free of charge and restricting the use of passenger vehicles in the city. This infographic shows the quality of the air in Paris during the first week of December, from 2011 to 2016, according to the Airparif's Citeair Index. Levels had remained relatively safe and stable over the previous five years, but the exceptional weather conditions this December have driven the pollution to a critical level.

For a more in depth look at the data, we also have a breakdown of the pollution levels for each of these seven days from 2011 to 2016.