The Clean Air in London Campaign confirmed today (9th January) that the London Air Quality Network’s air pollution sensor in Oxford Street reported a breach of the nitrogen dioxide hourly legal limit for the whole of 2014 in the first five days. This is the first London monitoring station to breach this limit so far this year.
Murad Qureshi AM, London Assembly Labour Group Environment spokesperson, said:
“It is appalling that just five days into the New Year the hourly legal limit for nitrogen dioxide on one of our busiest roads has already been exceeded. Air pollution is a known killer causing over 4,000 premature deaths every year.
Londoners don’t appreciate that simply taking a stroll down one of London’s premier thoroughfares could have a serious impact on their health. The Mayor needs to face up to the scale of the problem and take steps now to reduce air pollution quickly”
Ends
Notes
- Murad Qureshi is a London-wide Assembly Member.
- 5th January readings: http://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/advstatsvariousresults.asp?site1=WM6&site2=WA7&site3=&site4=&stattype=xcreadings&xvalue=200&zunits=ugm3&startdate=01-01-2014&enddate=05-01-2014&submit=View&period=hourly&species=NO2
4th January readings:
- Legal limits : http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/standards.htm
- Quick guide and laws in place since 1999 to be complied with by 2010 etc -http://cleanairinlondon.org/news/quick-guide-to-air-pollution/
World Health Organisation guidelines -