Many streets in Scotland over air pollution limit

Posted: January 19, 2016

Posted in: Personal Injury 

Friends of the Earth Scotland have revealed that many of the streets of Scotland are over the European legal limit for air pollution, which is linked to thousands of deaths in the country each year. Emissions of nitrogen dioxide are set at 40 microgrammes per cubic meter, but official monitoring stations managed by Friends of the Earth Scotland have shown breaches across the country in 2015. These emissions can be directly linked to asthma and other respiratory conditions.

The most polluted street in Scotland was named as St John’s Road in Edinburgh, which was monitored at an average annual rate of 65 microgrammes. This was closely followed by Bath Street in Glasgow, which averaged 60 microgrammes. Streets throughout Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth also revealed breaches.

“causes 2000 early deaths every year”

As well as monitoring levels of nitrogen dioxide, Friends of the Earth Scotland also collected data on particulate matter, which are tiny particles released into the air by diesel vehicles. Quality standards were breached in towns and cities all over Scotland. Campaigner Emilia Hanna stated:

“Air pollution causes 2000 early deaths in Scotland every year — it is a serious public health crisis and tackling it should be a top priority for the Scottish government”.

The Scottish government is currently facing legal proceedings due to a perceived lack of action to counter poor air quality. A spokeswoman has confirmed that significant improvements had been made since 1990 and that she fully expected that future action will continue to improve quality. Ministers introduced a clean air bill in November with a view to Scotland’s air being the best in Europe in the future.

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