15 Jul 2008

London pollution levels break safety barrier


I had this from Jean Lambert MEP for London, basically pollution levels in many parts of the city are well over what they should be, my fear is that with Boris the buffon, the only cyclist who is in love with Jeremy Clarkson, emissions will head upwards. He has scrapped increased charges for SUVs, scrapped the pedestrianisation of Westminister and while motorbikes are better than cars...his plan to let them share cycle lanes looks like a step backwards.

It would be nice if the 'green' Tories actually introduces some shallow environmentalism rather than continuing with all the usual locura.

PM10....tiny tiny tiny particles of matter are of course generated not just by traffic but incinerators, those may the reason for the New Cross figure below.

Air quality in London monitoring site here

Any way on to Jean



Government set to further fail Londoners over poor air quality



- Worst sites for air pollution in London revealed



In the light of new research into air pollution across London, Jean Lambert,
London's Green Party MEP, today slammed Government plans to delay meeting
new EU air quality targets [1]. Many sites in London are frequently
exceeding current standards, but instead of tackling the problem the
Government is planning to seek derogations from the EU Air Quality Directive
standards.



"Over 1000 people die prematurely every year in London as a result of poor
air quality, far more than die in traffic accidents. Air pollution is the
invisible urban killer and the Government should be doing everything
possible to clean up the air we breathe," said Ms Lambert [2].



At all but one of the 47 monitoring stations across London the level of
nitrogen dioxide, NO2, consistently exceeds current air quality standards
[3] and the level of PM10 particulate matter is exceeding current standards
at 6 sites [4].



Yet this week, the Green Party MEP for London received confirmation from the
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that the Government
is likely to seek extended compliance deadlines for the pollutants NO2 and
PM10, which have grave impacts on human health. If the European Commission
approves the Government's request to delay it would allow a further five
years from 2010 for compliance.



Jean Lambert continued:



"I am very concerned that London's air quality is already falling below EU
standards and if the Government is successful in seeking derogations from
the new standards it will take the UK further away from meeting its
obligations.



"Poor air quality presents a major threat to public health and it is
imperative that the Government commits to fully comply with the new EU Air
Quality Directive standards as early as possible."



She added:



"The area around Heathrow is also a hot spot and consistently fails current
air quality standards. The UK Government has no current action plan for
addressing non-compliance and any increase in air and road traffic will
simply intensify the problem and cause greater health problems for local
residents."



ENDS







Notes to Editors



[1] The EU Air Quality Directive



The Air Quality Directive came into force on 11 June 2008. It requires
Member States to reduce exposure to nitrogen dioxide in urban areas. The
limit value of 40 ug/m3 should be achieved by January 2010. Member States
may seek a five-year extension to this deadline but will have to meet
specific criteria for derogation to be allowed.



The standards for NO2 and PM10 will remain the same as current standards,
but the rules will be extended to cover fine particles (PM2.5), a pollutant
with serious health consequences.



[2] Health impacts of NO2 and PM10



Air pollution has impacts on human health ranging from minor effects on the
respiratory system to reduced lung function, asthma, chronic bronchitis,
cardiovascular disease and reduced life expectancy.



Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and particles (PM10 and PM2.5) are the
main air pollutants of note in the UK. Of these, particles are the largest
threat to human health they are through to take an average of 8 months off
the life expectancy of the average EU citizen (European Environment Agency),
and to have been responsible for over 1, 000 premature deaths in London
alone during 2005 (GLA estimate).



Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - A respiratory irritant



Particles (PM10 and PM2.5) - Long-term exposure to particles (especially
PM2.5) is associated with premature mortality, especially from heart and
lung conditions. Recent studies have also suggested that high levels of
PM2.5 in childhood can permanently impair lung function. High levels of
particles can affect asthma sufferers





[3] Twenty worst sites in London for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) pollution, all
exceeding current air pollution standard of 40 ug/m3



Average levels of NO2 recorded so far in 2008



1. Lambeth

Brixton Road monitoring station

221 ug/m3



2. Kensington & Chelsea

Earl's Court Road monitoring station

117 ug/m3



3. Westminster

Marylebone Road / Baker Street monitoring site

108 ug/m3



4. Kensington & Chelsea

Knightsbridge monitoring station

105 ug/m3



5. Kensington & Chelsea

King's Road monitoring station

96 ug/m3



6. Lambeth

Vauxhall Cross monitoring station

85 ug/m3



7. Camden

Shaftesbury Avenue monitoring station

83 ug/m3



8. Sutton

Wallington monitoring station

79 ug/m3



9. Camden

Swiss Cottage monitoring station

77 ug/m3



10. Hounslow

Chiswick High Road monitoring station

73 ug/m3



11. Hammersmith & Fulham

Broadway monitoring station

73 ug/m3



12. Tower Hamlets

Mile End Road monitoring station

69 ug/m3



13. Greenwich

Woolwich Flyover monitoring station

69 ug/m3



14. Barnet

Tally Ho monitoring station

66 ug/m3



15. Islington

Holloway Road monitoring station

66 ug/m3



16. Tower Hamlets

Blackwall monitoring station

63 ug/m3



17. Hackney

Old Street monitoring station

62 ug/m3



18. Hounslow

Brentford monitoring station

62 ug/m3



19. Lewisham

New Cross monitoring station

61 ug/m3



20. Lambeth

Christchurch Road monitoring station

60 ug/m3





[4] Six worst sites for PM10 particulate matter, all exceeding current
standard of 40 ug/m3



Average levels of PM10 recorded so far in 2008



1. Lambeth

Vauxhall Cross monitoring station

61 ug/m3



2. Greenwich

Woolwich Flyover monitoring station

54 ug/m3



3. Bexley

Erith monitoring station

49 ug/m3



4. Brent

Neasden Lane monitoring station

48 ug/m3



5. Westminster

Marylebone Road / Baker Street monitoring site

47 ug/m3



6. Hounslow

Brentford monitoring station

41 ug/m3



For further details about the sites go to
http://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicdetails.asp?region=0

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Derek,

It is interesting to note that the world acceptable standard for pollution is 50, while those who participate at the olympics will be subjected to a level of over a 100.

Since when was there an acceptable standard for pollution, & what was this standard, say twenty years ago??

Corporately backed science has always had a way of putting a blindfold or name-tag over an issue in order to disguise it or pretending it doesn't exist.

The future doesn't fare well even for those who are interested in preserving this planet with natural intent, as the the true institutions & cartels that run this Earth & control us only have a vision of future control.

The nearest they have come to touching anything green is a $100 bill.

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