Air Pollution

Air pollution

A government committee has estimated that 12,000 to 24,000 people in the UK die every year from the acute effects of air pollution. More die from chronic effects. A french study, reported in May 2004, reaches equally sinister conclusions.

Air pollution is clearly a major health issue.

Compare the deaths from air pollution with the 'mere' 3,100 people who were killed in a foreign country by a terrorist attack on 11 Sep 2001. At least 4 times as many people in the UK, with a population 4 times smaller, are killed every year by air pollution. So don't be fooled by our government's obsession and spin on terrorism. The real big issues, which threaten us all and which the government would rather we did not know about, are far closer to home.

In many parts of West London our air is not fit to breathe. The main source of air pollution is traffic emissions. Significant amounts also come from residential and commercial gas use, industry, construction sites and emissions from outside London. A particularly large and concentrated source of air pollution is Heathrow. Indeed, it is the biggest single source of pollution in Western Europe.

The government would have us believe that air pollution is getting better. But 2003 was the worst year since detailed monitoring started. See press release which was issued for the borough of Ealing but which is equally applicable for all of West London.

In January 2000, the government launched the Air Quality Strategy. It sets out air quality targets for the main air pollutants, which each local authority has to work towards. 'Air Quality Management Areas' have to be declared if pollution is forecast to exceed standards set by the government to protect human health. 'Action Plans' have to be instituted to bring the air to within standards. However, there is wonderful 'get-out'. While local authorities have to produce Action Plans, the Act places them under no obligation to succeed in reducing air pollution to safe levels !

Links and further information

For information on pollutants see what's in the air you breathe? page (archived file)
Information on health effects of air pollution from incineration can be found from our waste\incineration page.
General information on air pollution can be found on the web site of the National Society for Clean Air (NSCA).

The issue in London is addressed in the Mayor's Air Quality Strategy. Within West London, Ealing, Hounslow and Hillingdon councils are clearly concerned about the problem. See Hillingdon 'Air Quality Action Plan'.

Ealing and the Hammersmith & Fulham Friends of the Earth groups are campaigning on the issue. See for example 2003 worst year for air pollution

Back to pollution introduction.

Updated Dec 04