Archived press release

"Summer Time Smog" Hits Highest Level This Year

7 June 1996

But Government inaction means millions of British asthmatics will continue to suffer during smogs for at least nine more years [2].

Roger Higman, Senior Atmosphere & Transport Campaigner, said:

"Every year, in the hot weather, smogs form over Britain. We've known about the problem for years, yet Government inaction means asthmatics will continue to suffer for
nine more years."

Friends of the Earth called on the Government to introduce policies to control traffic growth and to force the European motor industry to introduce cleaner cars [3].

Roger Higman added:

"Transport Secretary Sir George Young must take a tough line with the motor industry when discussions on future vehicle emission standards get underway later this year."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

[1] "Summertime smogs" form when exhausts from road vehicles and other sources interact in strong sunlight. Ozone, one of the main constituents of smog, irritates the mucous membrane 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 World Health Organisation (WHO) has published guidelines for a range of pollutants including for ozone - that levels should not average over 50 parts per billion for an eight hour period and that levels should not exceed 76 parts per billion in any one hour.

The WHO eight-hour guideline was exceeded yesterday at the following monitoring sites: Aston Hill, Birmingham East, Bottesford, Bristol, Cardiff,Harwell, High Muffles, Ladybower, Leicester, London Bexley, London Bloomsbury, London Brent, London Haringey, London Kensington,London Sutton, London Victoria, London Wandsworth, Lullington Heath,Rochester, Sibton, South Somerset, Swansea, Wolverhampton and Yarner Wood.

Levels reached the DOE's own "poor" band (90 parts per billion) at the sites listed below:

[2] At an inter-Governmental conference on "summer-time smog" , Ministers from different European countries agreed to eliminate "summertime smog" by 2005. Britain will continue to suffer from smogs at least until then (DoE Press Notice 215 - 21 May 1996).

[3] Following the inter-Governmental conference, the UK Government is considering introducing tougher controls on vehicle use during smog episodes - including reductions in speed limits and city centre bans.However, although the Government gave itself powers to introduce such measures in the 1995 Environment Act, it has yet to use them.

The European Commission is due to announce its proposals for new emission controls in two weeks time. These proposals would come into force in the year 2000 and would play a major role in reducing smog problems. The European motor industry has lobbied heavily to water down the proposals.

[Index]

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