Air pollution is creating a public health crisis, warn campaigners
AIR pollution is causing a public health crisis in Scotland, according to environmental campaigners, with five new “pollutions zones” declared over the last year.
Friends of the Earth Scotland analysed data that it said looked at the country’s dirtiest streets.
It claims official figures for two toxic pollutants reveal air quality safety standards are regularly broken.
In 2016, new official pollution zones were declared in Linlithgow and Newton, West Lothian, as well as in the Renfrewshire towns of Johnstone and Renfrew.
With a pollution zone in Salamander Street, Edinburgh, coming into force later this month, it takes the number up to 38 across the country.
Friends of the Earth Scotland looked at figures for two key pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and “particulate matter.”
The most polluted streets with nitrogen dioxide last year were Hope Street, Glasgow, with 65 microgrammes per cubic metre; St John’s Road, Edinburgh, on 49; Wellington Road, Aberdeen, with 46; Seagate, Dundee, on 46; and Main Street, Cambuslang, with 45.
Other Scottish streets breaking the European directive of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre were Union Street,Aberdeen; Queensferry Road, Edinburgh, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, and Atholl Street, Perth.
Streets breaking the Scottish air quality objective of 18 microgrammes per cubic metre of particulate matter were Atholl Street, Queensferry Road, Salamander Street, and also King Street, Aberdeen; High Street, Crieff; West Bridge Street, Falkirk; and Glasgow Road, Edinburgh.
Friends of the Earth Scotland said the Scottish Government needs to take the issue more seriously.
Air pollution campaigner Emilia Hanna added: “Air pollution from traffic is a public health crisis, claiming thousands of lives each year and is particularly harmful for small children and pregnant women.
“For people living in an official pollution zone or near traffic-choked streets, breathing in toxic air is a fact of life. It should not be this way. We have the right to breathe clean air just as we have the right to drink clean water.
“The Government and local authorities are not tackling this public health crisis with the seriousness and urgency required.
“We now have a staggering 38 official pollution zones across Scotland, up from 33 last year.”