Archived press release

Worst smog of the summer raises stakes for Air Quality Strategy

19 August 1996

Britain is choking in the worst smog of the summer, just days before the launch of the Government's draft National Air Quality Strategy [1].

Over the weekend, health guidelines for ozone [2], the main constituent of summertime smog, were exceeded at 40 monitoring sites nationwide [3].Smog can aggravate asthma, which affects one in seven children nationwide[4].

As a new report reveals that traffic levels in rural areas are to continue to soar, Friends of the Earth called on the Government to use the National Air Quality Strategy to back up strong health standards with policies to control traffic growth and to force the European motor industry to introduce cleaner cars.

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

"Once again, Britain is choking in the sunshine. The Government must show this week that it means business when it says it wants to get rid of summertime smog [5]. We need tough air quality standards, and tough policies to make sure these standards are met".

In addition, at the 40 sites breaking international health guidelines, the Government was describing air quality as "good" at 38 sites [6]. A consultation paper on public information on air pollution is also expected this week.

Tony Bosworth added:

"The Government must stop giving the public misleading information. If pollution levels are breaking health guidelines, how can air quality be described as good'?"

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Government will publish its draft National Air Quality Strategy on Wednesday. A media briefing is available from Friends of the Earth.

[2] Ozone is formed by the interaction of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in sunlight. It 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 principal source of both nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons is road traffic.

[3] The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published guidelines for a range of pollutants including ozone. Levels of ozone should not average over 50 parts per billion (ppb) in any 8-hour period. This level has also been recommended as the national standard for ozone by the Government's experts on the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS).

This level was exceeded over the weekend at the following sites: Aston Hill (Powys), Birmingham Central, Birmingham East, Bottesford (Nottinghamshire), Bristol, Bush (South Scotland), Cardiff, Edinburgh, Eskdalemuir (Scotland), Exeter, Glasgow, Glazebury (Cheshire), Harwell, High Muffles (North Yorkshire), Hull, Ladybower, (Derbyshire), Leamington Spa, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London Bexley, London Bloomsbury, London Eltham, London Haringey, London Kensington, London Sutton, London Wandsworth, Lullington Heath, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Rochester, Sheffield, Sibton, Somerton (Somerset), Southampton, Strath Vaich (Northern Scotland), Swansea, Wolverhampton, Yarner Wood (Devon).

[4] Figures from the National Asthma Campaign.

[5] In an interview on BBC World Service "Newshour" on Tuesday 21st May, John Gummer said "We are now down to the nasty, but reducing every year, effect which we call summertime smog and I'm determined to get rid of that within the next ten years."

[6] The Government's public information on air quality describes ozone levels as "poor" when they reach 90 ppb in any hour. This level was only reached over the week end at Lullington Heath (on Saturday) and Sibton (on Sunday).

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust