Photo shows the Eiffel tower in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Ying Qiang)

PARIS, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Alternating traffic rules, imposed on Dec. 6 in Paris, will be extended on Thursday for a second consecutive day, the city authorities announced Wednesday.

Only cars with even numbers will be allowed to circulate in Paris and suburbs on Dec. 8 due to a" "particularly long episode of air pollution," they said in a statement.

Public transport will be free for the entire day to encourage people to limit use of their cars.

"Paris is suffering a pollution peak of exceptional intensity, with significant risks to public health," according to the statement.

Due to continued deterioration of air quality, Parisians are called to use clean modes of transport such as Velib and Autolib, which are public sharing services for bicycles and electric cars.

Traffic will be also restricted in Lyon and Villeurbanne, central France, from Dec. 9 because of "a lasting episode of air pollution," the region prefecture said.