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Pollution in capital exceeds limits by up to 100%
Mark Prigg, Science Correspondent20 Jun 2008
A group of MPs today criticised the Government for failing to reduce potentially deadly air pollution in London.
Latest figures show readings taken from 10 areas in central London exceeded EU recommendations by up to 100 per cent. A further 63 areas exceeded limits by up to 25 per cent.
The Commons transport committee singled out the capital's poor record on meeting targets in a report.
It found that targets for nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulates (PM10s) were all missed and in some cases levels were actually rising.
The report, based on 2006 readings, found the worst areas included King's Cross, Bloomsbury, Holborn and large swathes of the West End.
It said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was still reporting a failure to meet air quality targets, particularly in London.
It added: "The consequences of this failure are not insignificant ... it is estimated that respiratory disorders associated with PM10 episodes are responsible for 8,100 additional deaths and 10,500 additional hospital admissions each year."
A spokesman for London Councils, which represents town halls, said: "Boroughs are committed to working closely with our partners in industry and the Mayor, who also has a statutory duty to reduce air pollution, to deliver a cleaner capital. However, we are disappointed that the Government appears not to be as committed to our goals.
"In particular, plans to expand Heathrow will further undermine efforts to improve the capital's air quality and we remain deeply concerned that they could be pushed through, despite opposition."
Ministers are planning to apply to Brussels for a five-year exemption from the EU limits to allow Heathrow expansion to go ahead, which could mean more than 60,000 extra flights will pass low over London each year.
Boris Johnson today repeated his call for the airport plan to be shelved, saying it would "increase air pollution and the number of people exposed to dangerous levels of pollution".
Defra said: "Government is working to meet air quality targets."
DEADLY CHEMICALS IN LONDON'S AIR
Nitrogen dioxide
At high levels, this causes inflammation of the airways. Long-term exposure may affect lung function and respiratory system. NO2 also enhances the response to allergens in sensitive individuals.
Sulphur dioxide
Causes constriction of the airways. This effect is particularly likely to occur in people suffering from asthma and chronic lung disease.
PM10 particulates
Short- and long-term exposure to ambient levels of PM10 particulates is associated with ill health, respiratory and cardiovascular illness and even death.
Reader views (6)
This is what happens when people focus on CO2 emissions in the mistaken belief that it will stop natural climate change. The Chancellors' greed over fuel taxes has pushed people into buying particulate-emitting diesel vehicles and the expansion of buses that emit the worst pollutants hasn't helped.
Incidentally Ken Livingstone's tinkering with Trafalgar Square pedestrianisation has contributed to wider traffic flow problems. I know this from personal experience.
- Markus, Acton - London W.3, 23/06/2008 12:44
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The reason for the current horrendous pollution in Holborn is that there is a serious problem with the traffic being held on Kingsway due to to roadworks. Buses and traffic sit with their engines rolling for at least an hour in one place. Its disgusting that the work has not been completed in good time apparently the traffic will continue to be held up there for another 6 months.
- Samantha, London, 23/06/2008 10:34
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Stupid question perhaps, but why can they not make planes land in Heathrow coming in from the West to avoid flying low over Central London?
- Marco, Notting Hill, 23/06/2008 08:32
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The usual complaints about air pollution from the same crowd that object to any initiative which reduced traffic in London, such as the Congestion Charge.
And the aircraft pollution is negligible compares with vehicles, so lets worry about the cars first, and when thats done, worry about aircraft.
- Graham, Fleet, Hampshire, 22/06/2008 21:46
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On Monday this week, 11 leading non-governmental organisations wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to commit the government to comply fully with the new European Union Directive on air quality that entered into force on 11 June 2008.
They are:
Asthma UK
The British Medical Association
Campaign for Better Transport
Campaign for Clean Air in London
The Environmental Industries Commission
Environmental Protection UK
Green Alliance
The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland
Sustrans
The UK Public Health Association
WWF-UK
The letter said "If the UK does not meet its short-term obligations for air quality, what chance is there that it will meet five-year carbon budgets and longer-term commitments introduced in the Climate Change Bill?
"An unambiguous commitment now from the government backed thereafter by prompt and meaningful action will give stakeholders of all types, whether from business, the NGO sector or citizens generally, the certainty and time necessary to play their full part in delivering the required changes in the most cost effective manner."
Crucially, the new EU Directive, requires no more than that the government move towards and meet some World Health Organisation guidelines for air quality that were originally set in legislation as far back as 1999.
The government's inaction in this area over the last 10 years is lamentable.
Simon Birkett
- Campaign For Clean Air In London, London, UK, 20/06/2008 14:04
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So we pay our congestion charge, traffic has been cut yet the pollution is rising. Boris is right aircraft should be kept from flying over London. Stand in any street in london and you will see one plane fly over at a rate of one every two minutes. Heathrow should be run down and a new airport built on the Thames estuary.
- Dave Smith, Croydon, 20/06/2008 10:48
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