Nine in ten Britons live in areas where air pollution exceeds safe limits

September 27, 2016

Particulates in the air penetrate deep into the lungs and can cause cancer
The most polluted UK places included London, Manchester and Glasgow
Bath University collected the data for the World Health Organisation

Colin Fernandez Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published:
23:01 EST, 26 September 2016

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Updated:
02:33 EST, 27 September 2016

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More than 90 per cent of the UK’s population are living in areas where air pollution exceeds safe limits set by the World Health Organisation.

Diesel engines are one of the biggest polluters – contributing microscopic specks called particulates in the air can increase the risk of diseases such as asthma, as well as stroke and lung cancer, researchers said.

These particles of penetrate deep in the lungs and circulatory system where they can cause disease.

Worldwide, air pollution is blamed for around 3 million deaths.

Diesel engines are one of the biggest polluters – contributing microscopic specks called particulates (file image)

Research carried out by Bath University on behalf of WHO estimate that more than 90 per cent of the UK population lives in areas where levels of PM2.5 are higher than WHO air quality limits.

Using satellite data, a computer model estimated the pollution levels of every country in the world.

In the UK, the most polluted places included London and the south-East, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol and South Wales.

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Unpolluted spots were few and restricted to more remote areas – including the Scottish highlands and Dartmoor.

Dr Gavin Shaddick, of the University of Bath’s Department of Mathematical Sciences said that in the past more effort had been directed against coarse particles – but now it was increasingly realised that the invisible, ultra-fine particles are even more of a risk to our health.

He said: ‘A lot of PM2.5 comes from vehicle exhausts in urban areas, particularly diesel engines.’

He said: ‘Globally, air pollution presents a major risk to public health and a substantial number of lives could be saved if levels of air pollution were reduced.

These particles of penetrate deep in the lungs and circulatory system where they can cause disease (file image)

‘Dr Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director General at the WHO, said: ‘Air pollution continues to take a toll on the health of the most vulnerable populations – women, children and the older adults.

‘For people to be healthy, they must breathe clean air from their first breath to their last.’

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: ‘The Government is firmly committed to improving the UK’ s air quality and cutting harmful emissions.

‘That’s why we have committed more than £2billion to greener transport schemes since 2011 and set out a national plan to tackle pollution in our towns and cities.’