Archived press release

GASPING FOR THE MILLENNIUM. FOE Publishes Pollution Future for UK's Nastiest Roads

21 March 1999

Figures released today by Friends of the Earth name the most polluted roads in Britain's towns and cities. They also show how traffic cuts could dramatically reduce pollution levels and help its thousands of health victims.

The analysis, based on Government data, shows that with current policies, 761 road links(10% of total major urban roads) will break pollution standards for nitrogen dioxide in 2005.But if traffic reduction policies were introduced leading to a 30% cut in emissions, then only 116 road links would break the standard.

Almost two-thirds of the 761 road links are in London, but standards for nitrogen dioxide will also be broken in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Chatham, Chelmsford, Chesterfield,Derby, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Fareham, Gateshead, Glasgow, Grimsby, Hamilton, Hull,Jarrow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newbury, Newcastle, Newport,Nottingham, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Rayleigh, Reading, Rochester, Runcorn,Salford, Sheffield, Stockport, Stoke, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Britain's most polluted roads are:
1 London W1 (Mayfair) Park Lane
2 London NW2 (Neasden) North Circular Road
3 London NW2 (Brent Cross) North Circular Road
4 Leeds Wellington Road
5 London SW1 (Victoria) Grosvenor Place
6 London SW1 (Knightsbridge) Hyde Park Corner
7 Runcorn Queensway
8 London W6 (Hammersmith) Great West Road
9 London W12 (East Acton) Westway
10 London W6 (Hammersmith) Hammersmith Flyover

Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth's Air Pollution Campaigner, said:

“John Prescott says that we have a right to breathe clean air. But millions of

people across the country will still be suffering health-threatening pollution levels in 2005 unless we act now to reduce traffic levels. The Government's own figures show that traffic reduction will drastically cut the number of problem roads. But we still have no national traffic reduction target, and local councils still do not have the powers they need to tackle local traffic (2)”.

Nitrogen dioxide is not the only pollutant posing problems for the Government. Levels of particulates could break health standards in many urban locations (including some which may meet the nitrogen dioxide standard) and ozone - summertime smog - will still be a major problem in rural areas.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The statistics are based on forecasts made by Government scientists of future levels of nitrogen dioxide, and published on the Internet in 'An empirical model for estimating roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations' (Stedman, Bush & King, AEA Technology,1999). Current policies will lead to a reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions of 50% by 2005. Even allowing for this, the scientists estimate that 761 roads around the country could still break the Government's annual health standard for nitrogen dioxide.

However, when a cut of 30% in emissions from traffic was factored in, the number of roads breaking the health standard falls to 116.

Road traffic is the main source of nitrogen dioxide in the UK, responsible for around half of all emissions nationwide, and three-quarters in towns and cities.

Nitrogen dioxide can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. It can also make airways more sensitive to allergens such as house dust mite. By disrupting the body's natural cleansing mechanisms, nitrogen dioxide may increase the body's susceptibility to viral infections.

The Government's annual health standard for nitrogen dioxide is 21 parts per billion (ppb). This must be met at non-occupational near-ground level outdoor locations where a person might reasonably expect to be exposed over a year, such as near houses and schools. Many of the road links in London have houses close to the road. For towns and cities outside London, the position is less clear.

[2] Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to set a national target to reduce traffic levels by 10% on 1990 levels by 2010; and to implement nationwide as soon as possible measures announced in last year's integrated transport White Paper to allow councils to charge motorists for driving into town and city centres; to tax employers for car parking spaces provided for employees; and to provide a legal framework for Quality Partnerships between councils and operators to improve bus services.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust