Friends of the Earth's Pollution Patrol will sweep into action this week [1], measuring ozone levels at rural tourist spots, not covered by the Government's ozone monitoring network [2].

In a three day tour, Friends of the Earth will measure ozone levels at:

Avebury, Wiltshire on Tuesday, 8th August [3];

Roydon Wood, Boldre in the New Forest on Wednesday, 9th August [3]; and

Jamaica Inn, Bodmin Moor on Thursday, 10th August [3].

The tour is focusing on popular rural locations to show that it is not just Britain's cities that suffer high levels of pollution [4].

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

"You might think that you are escaping the pollution when you visit somewhere like Avebury, the New Forest or Bodmin Moor, but unfortunately this is often not the case. In summer time, pollution levels can be just as high in the countryside as they are in our big cities"

"If public health is to be protected, the Government must provide relevant air quality information throughout the country. The South West has only three functioning Government monitoring stations that measure ozone and none at all in Cornwall, Wiltshire or Dorset. The network is clearly inadequate. Friends of the Earth's Pollution Patrol will be giving the public the information that the Government cannot or will not give them".

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] A photocall for national media will be held at Avebury at 11:00 am, Tuesday 8th August.

[2] Ozone, the principal component of "summertime smog", is formed by the interaction of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in sunlight. It irritates the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, causing coughing, choking and impaired lung function, and exacerbating asthma symptoms. Other common symptoms include headaches, eye, nose and throat irritation and chest discomfort on deep breathing. The principal source of both nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons is road traffic.

The Government has 32 ozone monitoring sites, including three in the South West: Bristol, Harwell (Oxfordshire) and Yarner Wood (on the edge of Dartmoor, Devon). The monitoring site at Southampton has been out of order for over two months.

Ozone monitoring data is relevant for differing distances around monitoring sites, depending on the location of the site. The distances are as follows: Rural sites - up to 40 km Suburban sites - up to 20 km Urban sites - up to 10 km

Harwell and Yarner Wood are rural sites, Bristol is an urban site.

[3] The Pollution Patrol will be at:

Avebury National Trust premises, Avebury Roydon Wood Keepers Cottage, Roydon Wood, Boldre, nr Lymington Jamaica Inn Jamaica Inn, Bolventor

Please phone for more exact details.

The Pollution Patrol will be monitoring ozone levels using a highly sophisticated Horiba ultraviolet photometer giving continuous real-time information. Monitoring will take place at each site from approximately 10am to 6pm.

[4] Data for 1994 shows that the ozone monitoring sites recording the highest levels are all in rural areas. The sites recording the greatest number of days exceeding international health guidelines were Lullington Heath (Sussex), Sibton (East Anglia), Harwell (Oxfordshire), Aston Hill (Mid Wales) and Yarner Wood (Devon).

A media briefing giving further information on ozone: sources, levels and impacts is available.