Pollution in the UK

Bad air day: Pollution in our cities now so bad healthy people are at risk of harm

Air pollution in some major UK cities is a national disgrace which is killing thousands of people prematurely, warn campaigners.

the Mirror,

31 March, 2014

Manchester, Birmingham, London and Liverpool had at least five days last year when the air was potentially harmful to healthy people.

The worrying figures come from the Government’s own air quality index and unless it drastically cuts car emissions there will be dire implications for health in urban areas, say environment campaigners.

They say ministers are failing to do enough to fight the problem, despite cycling initiatives and low emission zones.

Friends of the Earth pollution campaigner Jenny Bates said: “Air quality in Britain is a national disgrace, with tens of thousands of people dying prematurely each year.

“It’s little wonder the EU is taking action to get us to clean up our act. Strong and urgent measures are needed to end this scandal, including action on road traffic, the cause of most pollution.”

And Green Party transport spokeswoman Caroline Russell said: “Air pollution is caused mainly by vehicle emissions and is a serious health threat, especially for those with asthma, heart and lung conditions.”

The shock findings come the day after the World Health Organisation 

(WHO) declared that seven million people are dying from air pollution globally each year. London had the worst average air quality overall and suffered eight days in 2013 when it hit dangerous levels.

Sheffield, which fared best overall, recorded six bad air days during the same year, compared to five in both Greater Manchester and Liverpool.

Nottingham recorded four harmful days, Swansea and Belfast each had two and both Newcastle and Leicester a single day.

Poor air: Birmingham city centre suffers from lack of wind and high temperatures

The WHO branded air pollution “the world’s largest single environmental health risk” causing far greater harm than previously thought.

Air pollution is also linked cancer, heart disease and stroke deaths.

Cities in the West Midlands region recorded a total of six days when air quality was potentially harmful, compared to three in West Yorkshire.

While major urban areas in England and Northern Ireland recorded harmful levels, Wales and Scotland’s major cities fared better. Neither Glasgow, Edinburgh nor Cardiff recorded a single day when the atmosphere was potentially harmful in 2013.

Air quality is measured in urban areas by the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). One is the best air quality while 10 is the most polluted. Healthy people are advised to take care in urban areas when they show 7-9 at “high” levels, or 10 out of 10 at “very high”.

The majority of potentially harmful days during 2013 were in March.

Ms Russell added: “Diesel particles cause cancer and are particular damaging as they can enter the bloodstream after being inhaled.

“The Government is complacent and their inaction is harming the health of people across the country and thousands are dying each year. There should be warnings when pollution is high so they can avoid the most polluted roads.”

London recorded the worst pollution on average at 3.4, followed by the West Midlands at 2.9, with Greater Manchester and Swansea both at 2.6.

On average the best air quality was recorded in Sheffield at 2.1, then Leicester, Portsmouth and Belfast at 2.3.

London Assembly Green Party member Baroness Jenny Jones, said: “Unless the Government and Mayor of London tackle this problem urgently by reducing traffic and encouraging a switch to cleaner vehicles, more people will die prematurely.

“And more and more children will suffer permanent reduced lung capacity or develop asthma.

“This is a public health emergency and the Government hasn’t spotted it.”