High levels of ozone pollution in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire, and other parts of rural Wales, experience surprisingly high levels of ozone pollution, according to official air quality figures released by Friends of the Earth.

The figures show that the Government's two rural monitoring stations in Wales, at Narberth and at Aston Hill in Powys, both exceeded the health standard for ozone pollution on numerous occasions last year. At Narberth, the standard was exceeded on 42 days and at Aston Hill on 39 days. Slightly less exceedences of ozone were recorded at the three other monitoring station in Wales - Cardiff, Swansea and Port Talbot.

Pollutants, mainly generated in urban areas, drift to rural areas where they form ozone in the presence of sunlight. The main source of the pollutants is road traffic, though contributions are also made by paint spraying and oil refineries.

Once formed, ozone irritates the mucous membrane of the respiratory system causing coughing, impaired lung function and exacerbating asthma symptoms. Other common symptoms include headaches and eye, nose and throat irritation.

Val Jones, of Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth, said:
"It will surprise many to learn that Pembrokeshire, and other parts of rural Wales, are blighted by high levels of ozone particularly during sunnier weather.

As an asthma sufferer myself, I know how poor air quality can affect health. It's vital that the Government does more to tackle the problem of traffic pollution and that policies to reduce traffic levels in Wales are pursued. These worrying figures should warn against any proposals to build a dual carriageway into Pembrokeshire."

Friends of the Earth has used the Government's data and the Government's method to calculate the value of its Air Quality Indicator for 1999. This measures, at selected monitoring sites across Britain, the average number of days on which air pollution levels for five main pollutants - ozone, particles, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide - were above the Government's air quality health standards. The Government has called this a "key quality of life indicator" [1].

Figures for Wales show that Port Talbot remains the air pollution blackspot exceeding health standards on eighty two days last year. The main problem was high levels of fine particles resulting from industrial activity and road traffic. Port Talbot also suffered exceedences of ozone on thirty six days.

Friends of the Earth Cymru believes that the Welsh Assembly can take a stronger stance on air quality than in England, where the Government plans to weaken the particle standard. The group has already written to Environment Secretary, Peter Law, urging him not to weaken the standard for particle pollution in Wales.

Gordon James, of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:
"We are urging the Welsh Assembly to use their powers to set higher standards of air quality in Wales. This will help to improve health and the image of Wales."

Notes

1. The Government's Air Quality Indicator is one of 14 headline indicators of sustainable development announced by the Government last year