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Plume of Sahara dust causes spike in European air pollution

The cloud of fine sand blown northward from Algeria tinted skies red and mixed with snowfall in the Alps and Pyrenees, leaving slopes looking orange.

2.57930867 A cross-country ski track covered with sand at La Fouly in the Val Ferret, Switzerland Salvatore Di Nolfi / Keystone via AP/PA Images Salvatore Di Nolfi / Keystone via AP/PA Images / Keystone via AP/PA Images

A PLUME OF Sahara dust that has blanketed parts of southern and central Europe in recent days caused a sharp rise in air pollution across the region, researchers have said.

The European Commission’s Copernicus satellite monitoring programme said measured levels of particles smaller than 10 micrometres – so-called PM10s – spiked in cities such as Barcelona, Lyon and Marseille on Sunday.

bfe40a4c-5715-4aa6-997b-b7aa8442d1d9 La Fouly in the Val Ferret, Switzerland Salvatore Di Nolfi / Keystone via AP/PA Images Salvatore Di Nolfi / Keystone via AP/PA Images / Keystone via AP/PA Images

The cloud of fine sand blown northward from Algeria tinted skies red and mixed with fresh snowfall in the Alps and Pyrenees, leaving slopes looking orange.

While PM10 particles can enter the lungs, causing breathing difficulties, asthma attacks and other health problems, the concentration of Sahara dust did not reach levels considered harmful.

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    Mute Michael Hegarty
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    Nov 12th 2011, 12:40 PM

    He’s another Bertie… Getting out in the nick of time before the shit hits the fan!!!!

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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Nov 12th 2011, 1:17 PM

    I agree, the similarities are striking.

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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    Nov 12th 2011, 1:53 PM

    I thought It had already hit !

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    Mute Ann Illing
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    Nov 12th 2011, 2:33 PM

    Apparently France is next ! ! Light the blue touch paper and stand well clear.

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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    Nov 12th 2011, 4:03 PM

    No, it’s Spains turn. France will have to wait ’till after Christmas.

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    Mute Michael Hegarty
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    Nov 12th 2011, 4:22 PM

    Id love to see the look on Merkel hatchet face today….. Firstly, her smug grin in hearing Silvio is gone….then seeing it change to shock when she realises France could be worse than Portugal….. Oh, to be a fly on the wall!!!!

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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Nov 12th 2011, 5:38 PM

    Will Sarkosy get his marching orders as well when France comes under pressure?

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    Mute Fergus O'Neill
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    Nov 12th 2011, 7:40 PM

    An unelected puppet , who happens to be a leading member of the Bilderberg Group, is set to be installed. No wonder IMF and markets are delighted – less of that pesky democratic election stuff to get in the way of the real business….

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    Mute Ann Illing
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    Nov 12th 2011, 4:53 PM

    Considering the scale of the debt in these countries makes us look good !

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    Mute Hot Toddy
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    Nov 12th 2011, 5:57 PM

    Afraid not. Although Italy’s public sector debt is huge, their private sector debt (household borrowing) is exceptionally low and their budget deficit is also very manageable. Contrast with Ireland, we have high (though not yet very high) public sector debt, absolutely enormous private sector debt and a huge budget deficit.

    Public sector debt is only a problem for us because it is growing as a proportion of GDP. Hard to grown GDP when private sector debt is so huge as people need to pay down their debts rather than spend. This is why it’s nonsense when Michael Noonan says he needs to get people spending again. How exactly……?

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