From the Institution of Mechanical Engineering
London’s
nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels similar to Shanghai and Beijing
Dangerous levels of pollution in the capital are
identified in a new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which
calls for urgent action to prevent illness and death.
With NOx levels at Paddington station in breach of
European limits regarding NO2 for outdoor air quality, the report calls on
Government to work with Network Rail to deliver the complete electrification of
the main rail lines between Britain’s principal cities and ports and in major
urban rail networks. Currently up to 70% of trains passing through the station
are powered by diesel engines that are exempt from regulations for modern
diesel trains.
Other pollution hot spots include the Bakerloo and
Victoria lines, which have the highest levels of airborne respirable dust
levels. But currently the impact and level of poor air quality is not well
understood, and the report calls for the introduction of a coherent national
scheme to monitor emissions from different modes of transport so that informed
targets can be set.
London’s commuters are most at risk during the morning
rush hour, with the concentration of pollutants 13% - 43% higher than during
afternoon or evening peaks. Another of the report’s recommendations is that
incentives should be introduced to encourage freight deliveries outside of peak
hours.
Philippa Oldham, lead author of the report and Member of
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:
“London is currently ranked as 15th out of 36
major global cities in terms of overall air quality, lagging behind other
European cities such as Berlin and Vienna. The capital needs to prioritise this
issue and create a modern Clean Air Act that takes a holistic approach; it must
not just target individual sectors, but encourage everyone to play a role in
reducing emissions.”
The A breath of fresh air: new solutions to reducetransport emissions report recommends that Government and industry work
together to:
1.
Introduce a national monitoring system, across
the different types of transport, recording all types of pollution, to create a
coherent picture against which national targets can be set.
2.
Develop incentives for cleaner technologies and
encourage the phase-out of legacy vehicles with poor emissions record across
the network (for example diesel cars and trains).
3.
Consider incentivising freight and logistic
operators to make deliveries outside peak hours.
4.
Conduct a series of trials on existing diesel
railway rolling stock, new bi-mode trains and in major stations, to understand
the level and effect of exposure to pollutants has on commuters and railway
workers.
5.
Conduct a series of trials to understand the
impact on the individual of exposure to pollutants in overground and
underground railway stations, ports, airports and bus stations.
6.
Create a positive and dynamic campaign that
informs the public of the health benefits of switching to lower-emission modes
of transport.
7.
Government to work with Network Rail to deliver
the complete electrification of the main rail lines between Britain’s principal
cities and ports and in major urban rail networks.
8.
Fund research through the Clean Air Fund and
Innovate UK to create programmes to clean up various transport modes.
