Responding to issuing a ‘High’ air pollution alert, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“The shocking and illegal state of London’s filthy air means once again I am triggering a ‘high’ air pollution alert today under my new comprehensive alert system. This is the seventh time in 13 months that we have had to use the alert system and shows just why air pollution is a public health crisis.
“Safeguarding the health of Londoners from toxic air is an important priority for me as Mayor. I am implementing the boldest policies of any city in the world, which includes introducing the T-charge next month to tackle emissions from the oldest polluting vehicles and bringing forward the Ultra Low Emission Zone with even tighter standards in April 2019. I have doubled funding to improve London’s air quality to £875 million and I am cleaning up the capital’s bus and taxi fleets. I have also written to London’s leading TV and radio broadcasters to ask them to include updates on the quality of London’s air during their news bulletins and weather reports and on their websites and apps, which would be coordinated with the existing city-wide alert system.
“I am doing everything with the powers I have at City Hall and it’s now time for the government to step up by introducing a national diesel scrappage fund to rid our streets of dirty diesels, and to give me the powers I need to tackle non-transport sources of pollution. This episode was caused by toxic emissions blown over from Europe, coupled with London's filthy air, which means we must continue to work closely with the European Union post-Brexit to effectively address the air quality crisis our city faces."
ENDS
Notes to editors
This is the seventh time the air quality alert system has been used since Sadiq Khan became Mayor. Once for ‘Very High’ and six times for ‘High’.
Before Sadiq Khan became Mayor, social media and text alerts have been used on a small number of occasions to make Londoners aware of air pollution episodes. Sadiq Khan believes it is important that Londoners are fully informed about toxic air quality and since being elected has delivered a comprehensive alert system using bus countdown signs, roadside signs and electronic updates at underground stations, plus social media and text alerts.
Air-quality alerts will be displayed at:
- 2,500 bus countdown signs and river pier signs across London.
- 140 road-side dot matrix message signs on the busiest main roads into London, with instructions to switch engines off when stationary to reduce emissions.
- Electronic update signs in the entrances of all 270 London Underground stations.
What is the air quality index?
The air quality index is how we communicate about air pollution levels in a simple way. It is numbered 1 to 10 and divided into four bands, low (1) to very high (10). This system was recommended by the government’s Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP).
What is causing this episode?
Mist, low cloud, fog and slow wind speed will limit the dispersal of accumulating particulate and so a build-up over the day is likely. In addition, a large high pressure system centred over northern Scandinavia is resulting in an easterly air feed from the continent. The air arriving on Wednesday will have travelled slowly and at low altitudes across industrialised parts of Europe giving it time to pick up emissions on the way. This will add to the preceding day’s pollution and combined with London's own emissions to likely produce 'High' levels of PM2.5 and 'Moderate' levels of PM10 particulate pollution across areas of London and the South East.
Note: even though the borough average is moderate or low, conditions next to busy roads may still be high or very high. Most people are exposed to pollution next to busy roads.
What is the health advice for ‘high’ pollution?
The Government’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) advises that adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms. People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion. Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors.
When was the last episode like this?
Episodes of pollution with high concentrations occur a few times per year in London, but very high pollution episodes are rare.
The last recorded high pollution in London was on 21 June this year.