Daily pollution forecasts start in the Standard today
A POLLUTION forecast will be printed in the Evening Standard from today to give Londoners a snapshot of the capital’s toxic air levels.
Two at-a-glance air quality maps show pollution level indicators from eight monitoring stations.
The data, provided by weather forecasting firm MeteoGroup, relates to nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5. The two pollutants are prevalent in diesel emissions and have been linked to the deaths of nearly 9,500 people in the capital every year, according to a King’s College London study.
Our maps show four levels of these emissions in micrograms per cubic metre. Data is gathered at lunchtime the previous day with danger levels illustrated as colour-coded spots, as well as a “today” forecast.
The monitoring stations, operated by Defra, are next to busy spots in
health lines and reaching for their asthma inhalers. It is criminal neglect by ministers who have lost two court cases over their inadequate plans to protect the health of citizens. We can’t act to make it cooler during a heatwave, or warmer during a freeze, but we can make it less polluted in hotspot areas by encouraging people to drive less and use public transport instead.”
Parents who keep their car engines running while outside school gates face a crackdown in 15 boroughs. Waltham Camden, Harlington, Marylebone Road, North Kensington, Bloomsbury, Bexley, Eltham and Southwark.
The World Health Organisation’s limits for maximum human exposure will be published with each map.
Greenpeace clean energy campaigner Anna Jones said: “With this daily alert, the Standard is not only providing a useful service to Londoners but is also helping keep up the pressure on the authorities to tackle the problem.” Simon Birkett, founder of Clean Air in London, said it was “tremendous” that the prominent warnings were being published.
The Standard will also print a new ThamesWatch alert that visualises the river’s water quality by showing the amount of dissolved oxygen, which is critical for supporting fish and the marine ecosystem. Readings are taken from Environment Agency sensors in the river. The illustration runs from red to green, with a marker comparing today’s quality with yesterday.
Forest is one of a number of boroughs starting “anti-idling” patrols. Nitrogen dioxide toxins at eight schools, nurseries, after-school clubs and further education centres in Waltham Forest exceed safe legal limits of 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air, an investigation by Greenpeace found. Drivers who refuse to turn off their engines can be given £20 fixed penalty notices.