The Central Region Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) reported that at the Fornelo do Monte station in Vouzela, Viseu district, an average hourly concentration of 240 µg/m³ (micrograms of ozone per cubic meter of air) was detected between 12:00 and 13:00 today.
The threshold for public information is set at 180 µg/m³, while the public alert level is set at 240 µg/m³, with Fornelo do Monte station recording an average hourly concentration of 190 µg/m³.
The CCDR of the Center warned that “the recorded concentration levels may cause harm to human health, especially among the more sensitive population groups (children, the elderly, asthmatics, allergy sufferers, and individuals with other respiratory or heart conditions).”
The Commission recommended that residents in the 48 municipalities affected in the Central region “minimize intense physical activity outdoors (especially outdoors), avoid other risk factors such as smoking or using/contacting with irritant-containing solvents in their composition such as gasoline, paints, and varnishes; strictly adhere to any ongoing medical treatments, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.”
“Exposure to this pollutant primarily affects the ocular and respiratory mucous membranes, and its effects may manifest as symptoms such as coughing, headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, and eye irritation,” it warned.
The Interior Central Zone includes the municipalities of Aguiar da Beira, Almeida, Celorico da Beira, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Fornos de Algodres, Gouveia, Guarda, Manteigas, Meda, Pinhel, Sabugal, Seia, Trancoso in the Guarda district.
In the Leiria district, it includes the municipalities of Alvaiázere, Castanheira de Pera, Figueiró dos Vinhos, and Pedrógão Grande, and in the Coimbra district, Arganil, Góis, Oliveira do Hospital, Pampilhosa da Serra, and Tábua.
In the Castelo Branco district, the area covers Belmonte, Castelo Branco, Covilhã, Fundão, Idanha-a-Nova, Oleiros, Penamacor, Proença-a-Nova, Sertã, Vila de Rei, and Vila Velha de Ródão, while the Santarém district includes the municipality of Mação.
The Interior Central Zone also covers in the Viseu district the municipalities of Carregal do Sal, Castro Daire, Mangualde, Mortágua, Nelas, Oliveira de Frades, Penalva do Castelo, Santa Comba Dão, São Pedro do Sul, Sátão, Tondela, Vila Nova de Paiva, Viseu, and Vouzela.
