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Smoggy Paris Takes Rare Moves to Curb Soaring Pollution

French officials ordered extraordinary measures on Monday to curb heavy pollution that has shrouded the city in thick fog.
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PARIS — French officials ordered extraordinary measures for Monday to curb heavy pollution that has blanketed the city in thick fog.

Gray smog has covered the French capital for days, shrouding the Eiffel Tower and other well-known landmarks. The city's pollution index was at 7 out of 10 according to Airparif, which monitors levels for the French government.

Parisian officials ordered "alternative traffic" only for Monday — allowing only cars with odd license-plate numbers to circulate — and offered free public transportation in an attempt to cut the pollution. Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, said on Twitter early Monday that traffic already was down by around 40 percent.

Image: FRANCE-POLLUTION-AIR-ENVIRONMENT-FILES
A file photo taken on March 17, 2014 shows police officers controlling a man riding a motorbike in front of the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, as the city resorted to drastic measures to curb soaring pollution levels.FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP - Getty Images
— Nancy Ing