Oviedo (EFE).- The Asturian Government has agreed to maintain in Oviedo, for the fifth consecutive day, and in the mining regions level 1 (notice) of the action protocol in the event of contamination episodes.
The councils of Mieres, Langreo and San Martín del Rey Aurelio, and the valley of the Caudal river, in Lena, have been in this situation since yesterday after having maintained high levels of suspended particles in the atmosphere for three consecutive days and unfavorable conditions exist. of ventilation.
However, the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has forecast favorable atmospheric ventilation conditions in the areas of Oviedo and basins for the next 24 hours.
The State Agency of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) expects, however, that the Saharan intrusions will continue tomorrow, a consequence of a phenomenon that the peninsula has been suffering for several days and that is also affecting the north and northwest of Spain.
These Saharan intrusions, which are associated with an increase in particles in the air and the consequent worsening of its quality, led the Ministry of the Environment to activate the protocol in Gijón between Friday of last week and yesterday, Monday.
In Oviedo it has been active since last Saturday, while in the Avilés area the conditions to activate the protocol have not been met at any time.
The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) predicts that these Saharan intrusions will continue tomorrow, a consequence of a phenomenon that the peninsula has been suffering for several days and that is also affecting the north and northwest of Spain.
Level 1 measures
The device is activated at level 1 when the concentration of particles is greater than 35 micrograms per cubic meter for particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns or 35 for those with a diameter of less than 10 microns for three days on at least a station in the area and, simultaneously, there is a forecast of meteorological phenomena that hinder the diffusion of pollutants: atmospheric stability, thermal inversion and absence of rain.
Level 1 of the protocol notice implies the implementation of measures that affect citizens and different economic and social agents in such a way that speed is limited on roads of the state and regional networks, the movement of heavy goods vehicles is prohibited in certain urban sections and the roads are irrigated.
As regards industry and port activity, the need to take extreme precautions is established in processes likely to generate diffuse emissions, including the handling and storage of powdery bulk, within the framework of their environmental authorizations.
In addition, the inspection action is reinforced and it is necessary to water roads, particularly in the access areas to outdoor bulk storage, or the wetting of dusty bulk stored outdoors and other sources of diffuse emission such as conveyor belts or loading areas. and download.
In the case of the port, the protocol establishes measures such as the reduction of operations (loading, unloading, transfer and transport of powdery material) to the essential minimum, and the prohibition, with some exceptions, of bulk handling outdoors.
Works and activities that generate air pollution are also limited in certain time slots: demolitions, cleaning of facades, cutting or abrading materials on public roads or street cleaning systems with blowing.
Especially sensitive people (adults or children with respiratory problems, heart conditions, COPD, and pregnant and lactating women) are recommended to plan physical activity and reduce it in the event of experiencing symptoms, as well as to stay away from the roads with the most traffic. EFE