The Government is predicting that Southern England will be hit by high levels of air pollution this week.
According
to forecasts from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (DEFRA) the levels of pollutants in the air will be at the
highest level possible on the measuring scale.
Forecasts,
available on the DEFRA website, show that pollution is set to be at
‘level 10’. At this level of pollution the Government advise people to
reduce strenuous exercise and those with medical conditions to avoid
activity wherever possible.
Last
month one of South East England’s Euro-MPs suggested that free public
transport should be made available on days with high pollution to cut
the number of vehicles on the road. Keith Taylor, the Green Party’s MEP
for South East England, made the proposal after the city
of Paris provided free public transport to cut smog levels.
Responding to the latest smog wave Mr Taylor said:
These extremely high levels of pollution highlight just how serious a threat bad air is to our health.Episodes like this often have a number of contributing factors. What seems clear is that towns and cities across South East England need to reduce the level of air pollution in their streets by cutting the amount of traffic. But on top of that it’s clear that our Government must play a role in pushing for stronger air pollution laws from the European Union, rather than trying to water down the rules we already have.The air in our towns and cities needs to be cleaned up. To do that we need to reduce the amount of traffic and bring in cleaner alternative transport options.This smog, which is affecting Northern France as well as Southern Britain, shows just how important it is that we work with out European neighbours in creating laws that protect our environment and our health.
1) The pollution forecast is available here: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/forecasting/
2) Health warnings for air pollution episodes: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/daqi
2) Health warnings for air pollution episodes: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/daqi
