Fuelling pollution

THE news (Mail) that pollution from diesel engines could be responsible for up to 60,000 cases of dementia sits rather oddly with our increasing reliance on diesel generator farms to back up our rickety National Grid.

Traditionally, coal and gas power stations provided spinning reserve to ensure that surges in demands and unforeseen shutdowns didn’t lead to blackouts for the general public or industry. With the growth of wind turbines and other part-time methods of electricity generation, the need for immediate reserve generating capacity is ever-increasing.

Diesel generator farms are not just much more polluting than modern gas and coal power stations, together with wind farms they produce much more expensive electricity than proper power stations, and so contribute to fuel poverty.

In the name of the environment, we are marching towards poverty and pollution rather than economic growth and opportunity. It is time we demanded the cheap, reliable, low pollution electricity which can only come from real power stations.

OTTO INGLIS, Edinburgh. WHEN any report on air pollution is issued, the Green Party and Friends Of The Earth get overly excited about the poor old motor car.

This is not the only source of air pollution. In the village where I live, wood-burning stoves and bonfires are causing a lot of pollution. The soot particles that they produce can penetrate deep into the lungs and have been implicated in exacerbating serious lung and cardiovascular diseases.

ROBERT BISHOP, Billingshurst, W. Sussex.

MORE families walking to school will protect our children from toxic air pollution (Mail).

Motorised traffic is the biggest source of dirty air in our towns and cities. One in four cars on our roads at peak times is on the school run.

To reduce congestion and the toxic air lingering around school gates, we need to encourage more families to walk to school. Closing streets to cars outside schools can also be effective in cutting pollution, with the added benefit of improving safety.

It’s a misconception that children are protected from air pollution if they are inside a car.

But it is clear the benefits of being physically active outweigh the air pollution risk in walking to school.

ZAK BOND, Living Streets, London E1.