Air pollution falls to lowest in 30 years

AIR pollution fell to the lowest level in three decades last year as traffic plummeted during the pandemic, according to official statistics.

But clean air groups warned the improved air quality was just an anomaly as cars stayed in driveways and pollution would rapidly rise again post-lockdown.

Nitrogen dioxide and fine particle levels – two of the airborne poisons most damaging to human health – both recorded steep drops in 2020. Both pollutants contribute to the estimated 28-36,000 deaths a year from air pollution, as well as aggravating lung disease.

The Department for the Environment’s air pollution statistics showed nitrogen dioxide [NO2] pollution, a major source of which is diesel engines, was 29 per cent lower than the average for the past three years. The report showed average annual levels of NO2 at urban sites decreased to 15.1 micrograms per cubic metre of air in 2020, its lowest level since 1990.

But Dr Doug Parr, chief scientist for Greenpeace UK, said: ‘These numbers look good, but... these are not the kind of laurels you want to rest on. A pandemic-induced fall in NO2 concentrations is no excuse to relax our efforts to deal with dirty air.’