Feb 26, 2008 - 12:12

Fine-particle pollution worries authorities

The authorities in Ticino have imposed a speed restriction on the motorway linking southern Switzerland with Italy following a rise in fine-particle pollution.

The 80km speed limit was introduced on Monday on the stretch between Chiasso and Taverne after pollution levels exceeded permitted levels.

The authorities called on the local population to avoid using cars and to lower the temperature in apartments.

The situation in Ticino is not expected to improve within the next few days owing to the stable weather conditions.

On Tuesday a government advisory committee called for further measures to tackle air pollution, saying that existing means were not adequate to curb fine-particle levels that were consistently too high.

The air hygiene commission called on the cabinet and cantons to urgently act to implement a range of measures aimed at reducing consumption of heating oil and petrol and diesel.