This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/31/battle-to-clean-up-the-air-we-breathe
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Battle to clean up the air we breathe | Battle to clean up the air we breathe |
| (2 months later) | |
| The link between cognitive performance and air pollution is very worrying but not surprising (High pollution levels ‘causing huge reduction in intelligence’, 28 August). The report by the Royal College of Physicians in 2016 drew a link between air pollution and dementia in the elderly and reduced cognitive performance in children. This recent study from China indicates that teenagers and adults are also affected. | The link between cognitive performance and air pollution is very worrying but not surprising (High pollution levels ‘causing huge reduction in intelligence’, 28 August). The report by the Royal College of Physicians in 2016 drew a link between air pollution and dementia in the elderly and reduced cognitive performance in children. This recent study from China indicates that teenagers and adults are also affected. |
| We don’t know how these effects are mediated, but with neurotoxins such as lead the most critical period of exposure is likely to be during pregnancy. A study undertaken in New York of non-smoking mothers showed strong associations with foetal exposure to particulates and subsequent mental health problems in those children at primary school age. These problems included anxiety, depression and ADHD. This has momentous implications for public health. We are suffering an epidemic of mental health problems among British schoolchildren which the medical profession is unable to explain. There is an urgent need for further research in this area, but I am not aware of any study in the UK that addresses this problem.Dr Robin Russell-JonesFormer chair, Campaign for Lead Free Air | We don’t know how these effects are mediated, but with neurotoxins such as lead the most critical period of exposure is likely to be during pregnancy. A study undertaken in New York of non-smoking mothers showed strong associations with foetal exposure to particulates and subsequent mental health problems in those children at primary school age. These problems included anxiety, depression and ADHD. This has momentous implications for public health. We are suffering an epidemic of mental health problems among British schoolchildren which the medical profession is unable to explain. There is an urgent need for further research in this area, but I am not aware of any study in the UK that addresses this problem.Dr Robin Russell-JonesFormer chair, Campaign for Lead Free Air |
| • As Matthew Taylor’s article ‘Dangerously dirty’: the battle over air pollution’ (29 August) suggests, we welcome the mayor’s ultra-low emissions zone as part of a plan to clean up London’s air. As well as Ulez – which aims to restrict access to central London for the most polluting vehicles – the most effective way to tackle air pollution would be to install more high-speed charging points for electric vehicles. | • As Matthew Taylor’s article ‘Dangerously dirty’: the battle over air pollution’ (29 August) suggests, we welcome the mayor’s ultra-low emissions zone as part of a plan to clean up London’s air. As well as Ulez – which aims to restrict access to central London for the most polluting vehicles – the most effective way to tackle air pollution would be to install more high-speed charging points for electric vehicles. |
| According to a study commissioned by Addison Lee, given the intensive mileage of private hire vehicles, switching a single one to electric power has an impact equivalent to switching 10 privately owned cars away from fuel. But to do so, the industry needs chargers that take half an hour, rather than two or three hours. We look forward to supporting the work of the mayor’s new taskforce to expand electric vehicle infrastructure to drive this agenda forward. | According to a study commissioned by Addison Lee, given the intensive mileage of private hire vehicles, switching a single one to electric power has an impact equivalent to switching 10 privately owned cars away from fuel. But to do so, the industry needs chargers that take half an hour, rather than two or three hours. We look forward to supporting the work of the mayor’s new taskforce to expand electric vehicle infrastructure to drive this agenda forward. |
| Transport for London’s proposal to extend the congestion charge to private hire vehicles will work against these objectives, taking money out of the industry at a time when companies want to invest in the vehicles needed to support the push for cleaner air in the capital, while doing little to alleviate congestion.Andy Boland,CEO, Addison Lee Group | Transport for London’s proposal to extend the congestion charge to private hire vehicles will work against these objectives, taking money out of the industry at a time when companies want to invest in the vehicles needed to support the push for cleaner air in the capital, while doing little to alleviate congestion.Andy Boland,CEO, Addison Lee Group |
| • The “criticism that the mayor is not tackling key polluters” should include incinerators as well as black cabs. If Sadiq Khan believes PM2.5 emissions from incinerators aren’t affecting Londoners’ health, he should ask Public Health England why the incinerator study first promised in 2011 remains unpublished more than seven years later.Michael RyanShrewsbury, Shropshire | • The “criticism that the mayor is not tackling key polluters” should include incinerators as well as black cabs. If Sadiq Khan believes PM2.5 emissions from incinerators aren’t affecting Londoners’ health, he should ask Public Health England why the incinerator study first promised in 2011 remains unpublished more than seven years later.Michael RyanShrewsbury, Shropshire |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| • Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition | • Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition |
| Air pollution | Air pollution |
| London | London |
| Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars | Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars |
| Travel and transport | Travel and transport |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | Greenhouse gas emissions |
| Mental health | Mental health |
| Health | Health |
| letters | letters |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |