Families, campaigners and those worst affected by low air quality have reacted angrily to new figures from Labour which show as many as 33 million people are living in areas where toxic nitrogen dioxide exceeded legal limits in 2019. Legal limits set by the EU were broken in 142 local authorities in England, areas which are home to 7 million children and 5.5 million people over 65, the latter of which are also at higher risk from Covid-19, a respiratory disease in which health outcomes have been linked to air quality. As lockdown restrictions have largely lifted, concern is growing that air quality which had improved at the height of the pandemic is rapidly returning to the illegal levels seen in areas across the country last year.
Independent 7th Sept 2020 read more »
Almost 60 per cent of people in England are living in areas where levels of toxic air pollution exceeded legal limits last year, analysis of official figures has revealed. Legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – a toxic gas that inflames airways in the human respiratory system – were broken in 142 local authorities in 2019, potentially affecting as many as 33 million people in total. This includes groups particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including 7 million children and 5.5 million people over 65 years old. The latter group is now at additional risk because of the coronavirus.
Independent 6th Sept 2020 read more »