‘Toxic event’ over Central Belt sparks health fears
DOWNLOA D VULNERABLE people are at risk from an air pollution episode which is creating dangerous conditions across parts of the country, an environmental charity has warned.
Friends of the Earth Scotland said that levels of toxic particulate matter are breaking World Health Organisation (WHO) and Scottish regulatory safety standards across many parts of the Central Belt, with the east particularly affected.
Unsafe levels of particulate matter have been recorded on official monitors in Glasgow and Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, Fife, West Lothian and Falkirk, yesterday.
The episode is forecast to head north, with Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Eilean Siar, Highland Council, Moray, Perth and Kinross, the Shetlands, and Stirling expected to have unsafe levels over the weekend.
Emilia Hanna, air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Toxic particulate matter has blown in from the south of the United Kingdom and has added to the pollution pouring out of car and lorry exhausts on our streets.
“Still, calm weather in England produced a build-up of trafficderived air pollution, which is now travelling to Scotland.
“The air pollution episode is creating dangerous conditions, especially for vulnerable people with lung or heart problems.”
Official health advice is that adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, who experience symptoms, should consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors.
Traffic-derived air pollution, mainly composed of fine particles and toxic gases, has been linked with cancer, allergies, asthma, strokes, heart attacks, restricted foetal development, damaged lung development in children and the onset of dementia in adults.
Friends of the Earth Scotland estimate that 2500 people die early each year from air pollution in Scotland alone.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are determined to improve air quality and are working to ensure Scotland’s first low emission zone is in place next year.
“The Government is liaising closely with local authorities and other partners to meet this timetable.
“Our work on air pollution also includes a range of transport initiatives which are already in place.”