During the last few days, several Spanish cities have had to activate their air pollution protocols This is due to the combination of two phenomena: the arrival of suspended dust from the Sahara and smoke from nearby forest fires. The situation has particularly affected the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia, where levels of fine particulate matter (PM10) have skyrocketed, forcing local councils to take measures to protect public health, frequently consulting the air quality map of Spain.
In Valencia, the City Council declared level 1 of the anti-pollution protocol on Sunday Following the detection of a massive intrusion of Saharan dust and the ongoing wildfires in the area, particularly the one in Vall d'Uixó (Castellón), which remains uncontrolled and has forced the evacuation of thousands of people, the measure, announced via social media, included a series of recommendations aimed at reducing exposure and emissions.
Measures in Valencia and evolution of the episode
The protocol activated in the capital of Turia He recommended using public transport, minimizing energy consumption, and avoiding outdoor exercise. Children, people over 65, people with respiratory problems, and pregnant women were asked to stay home until optimal air quality conditions were restored. People were also asked not to burn stubble, scrubland, or pastures, and to carpool whenever possible to reduce emissions, understanding that air quality and energy consumption They are closely linked.
Meteorologist Marta Ferri, from Aemet in the Valencian Community, explained that the haze seen in recent days was due to an atmospheric ridge pushing very warm air from the Sahara, carrying mineral dust with it. This was compounded by the smell of burning from the wildfires. Fortunately, On Monday morning, the City Council announced the deactivation of the protocol. Upon confirming that particle concentrations had decreased and air quality had improved, as reported via social network X.
Lorca also activates its protocol for African dust
In the Region of Murcia, the Lorca City Council It implemented the Municipal Framework Protocol for Action in the event of PM10 particle pollution episodes After the local monitoring station recorded a daily average of 93,42 micrograms per cubic meter, corresponding to Corrective Level 2 of the regional protocol, the Environment Councillor, MarÃa Hernández, indicated that the episode was related to a new intrusion of air masses of African origin affecting the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, with concentrations of suspended dust that could reach up to 500 µg/m³.
The recommendations in Lorca were more specific: Vulnerable groups were advised to use FFP2 or FFP3 masksPeople were advised to stay indoors if they experienced high exposure or felt unwell, and to consult a healthcare professional. They were also asked to avoid strenuous outdoor exercise, control the cooling of homes and public buildings to reduce energy consumption, turn off unused electrical appliances, carpool or use public transportation, and practice efficient driving by limiting speed and avoiding sudden acceleration and braking.
Meanwhile, in the Murcia metropolitan area, the stations of Alcantarilla, San Basilio and Ronda Sur They did not register any level of performance On July 25, with daily PM10 averages of 38,22, 37,26, and 33,75 µg/m³ respectively, although the intrusion of African air masses was confirmed with expected concentrations between 5 and 50 µg/m³. The forecast for the following day indicated that the episode would continue to subside.
In short, the combination of Saharan dust and smoke from fires has caused several cities in the east and southeast of the Iberian Peninsula to be affected. Activate your pollution protocols to protect the populationMeasures range from restrictions on outdoor activity to the use of face masks. While Valencia has already declared the episode over, Lorca remains on alert and citizens are advised to monitor air quality through official channels.