Warmer weather leads to rise in air pollution

While many are enjoying the warmer weather across the UK, it has led to air pollutions rising across many parts of England and Wales. The government has previously been criticised for failing to bring down air pollution levels.

According to UK Air, warm sunny conditions and light winds, from the southeast, means that ‘moderate’ levels of air pollution are expected across many parts of England and Wales on Thursday. Some “isolated” high levels are possible in urban roadside locations.

Friday is likely to see pollution worsen, with many areas of central, eastern and northern England forecast to become areas of ‘high’ pollution, while for a time the far southeast of England could experience ‘very high’ levels.

When levels reach ‘very high’ the general population is advised to reduce physical exertion, particularly outdoors. For adults and children with lung or heart problems ‘high’ levels, and in some cases for lung problems in ‘moderate’ levels, Air UK advises they reduce strenuous physical exertion, while asthma sufferers are advised they made need to use their inhaler more often.

Cleaner Atlantic air is expected to reduce air pollution levels to ‘moderate’ or ‘low’ over the weekend.

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said, “This latest air pollution episode, coming so soon after the last, is troubling, and could again pit people living with respiratory conditions at risk of worsening symptoms.”

She added, “With periods of high pollution often resulting from a combination of domestically-produced pollution and that coming from mainland Europe, we need urgent action from government to clean up the air we breathe, across all government departments at home and at a pan-European level.”

Photo: astrangelyisolatedplace via Flickr

Further reading:

Study: air pollution affects heart beat

EU air pollution and recycling laws could be scrapped

Government rejects MPs’ plans for air pollution inquiry

MIT study links climate change, air pollution and decreasing food supplies