City air quality given a clean bill of health

Air pollution in Sunderland is within safe limits, according to research by environmental campaigners.

Analysis by Friends of the Earth found levels of nitrogen dioxide at more than 1,000 monitoring sites in England are failing to meet Government air quality targets of 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air

The audit found no sites in the city where the average level of nitrogen dioxide – mostly produced by cars – exceeded 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air in 2018 – the latest year for which data is available.

According to Friends of the Earth, road traffic is the leading cause of nitrogen dioxide pollution, which can inflame the lining of the lungs and reduce immunity to infections such as bronchitis.

The group’s clean air campaigner Simon Bowens said: “Failing to fix air pollution costs lives. It also shows a failure to address the climate crisis.

“If ministers want to avoid a return to the healthdamaging and illegal levels of air pollution we had before the coronavirus lockdown, their enthusiasm for ‘active travel’ needs to be a permanent switch, not just a shortterm gap plugger.”

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said: “Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 33% since 2010 and are at their lowest level since records began.

“But we know there is more to do, which is why we are taking urgent action to curb the impact air pollution has on communities with a £3.8bn plan to clean up transport and tackle NO2 pollution.”