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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/05/paris-prosecutors-open-criminal-inquiry-into-air-quality-on-metro
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| Paris prosecutors open criminal inquiry into air quality on Métro | Paris prosecutors open criminal inquiry into air quality on Métro |
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| Operator investigated for possible trickery and causing involuntary injuries over pollution levels within network | Operator investigated for possible trickery and causing involuntary injuries over pollution levels within network |
| Prosecutors in Paris have opened a criminal investigation into allegations that pollution in the capital’s Métro system is putting travellers’ lives at risk. | Prosecutors in Paris have opened a criminal investigation into allegations that pollution in the capital’s Métro system is putting travellers’ lives at risk. |
| The operator of the Métro, the RATP, is being investigated for possible trickery and causing involuntary injuries after it was claimed it had deliberately underreported pollution levels and failed to inform passengers about the dangers. | |
| “It’s time to lift the veil of silence and that the RATP tells the truth to users,” the head of the Respire (Breathe) campaign group, Tony Renucci, said in a statement on Wednesday that announced the opening of a criminal investigation, which was confirmed by the Paris prosecutor’s office. | “It’s time to lift the veil of silence and that the RATP tells the truth to users,” the head of the Respire (Breathe) campaign group, Tony Renucci, said in a statement on Wednesday that announced the opening of a criminal investigation, which was confirmed by the Paris prosecutor’s office. |
| The charity, which lobbies for clean air, filed a legal complaint in 2021 after carrying out two separate monitoring investigations. | The charity, which lobbies for clean air, filed a legal complaint in 2021 after carrying out two separate monitoring investigations. |
| It accused the RATP of being aware of the pollution problems for the last two decades. | |
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| The most pivotal stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment | The most pivotal stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment |
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| The RATP strongly denied Respire’s allegations, and said it had “continuously and scrupulously” monitored air quality and taken steps to maintain it. | |
| In June last year, the French public health watchdog Anses concluded that levels of toxic fine particulate matter were on average three times higher inside the Métro than outside. | In June last year, the French public health watchdog Anses concluded that levels of toxic fine particulate matter were on average three times higher inside the Métro than outside. |
| Of particular concern were particles generated from braking, while pollution was only monitored in three stations across the whole 309-stop network, Anses said. | Of particular concern were particles generated from braking, while pollution was only monitored in three stations across the whole 309-stop network, Anses said. |
| The RATP said air quality was a “priority” and it had an “ambitious action plan” to tackle pollution, including installing high-performance fans and electric braking systems to reduce pollution. | |
| An estimated 40,000 premature deaths occur in France each year due to air pollution, according to public health figures. | An estimated 40,000 premature deaths occur in France each year due to air pollution, according to public health figures. |