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Smog across England prompts Defra to issue health warning Smog across England prompts Defra to issue health warning
(35 minutes later)
It is a warm midday near the end of the Easter holidays, and the pebbly beach at Brighton is, not unexpectedly, starting to fill up with daytrippers. Amanda and Peter Argent, on a visit from Essex with their two young sons, were very nearly not among them.It is a warm midday near the end of the Easter holidays, and the pebbly beach at Brighton is, not unexpectedly, starting to fill up with daytrippers. Amanda and Peter Argent, on a visit from Essex with their two young sons, were very nearly not among them.
“We stayed with friends nearby last night, and when we heard how bad the pollution would be we did wonder if we should maybe go somewhere else,” said Amanda Argent, en route to buy ice creams. “I’ve seen some joggers just now – you wouldn’t catch me doing that today.” “We stayed with friends nearby last night, and when we heard how bad the pollution would be we did wonder if we should maybe go somewhere else,” says Amanda Argent, en route to buy ice creams. “I’ve seen some joggers just now – you wouldn’t catch me doing that today.”
On the horizon behind the family hung a notable haze, while the sea air, if inhaled deeply, carried a slight but noticeable acrid tang. The East Sussex city was among a number of British areas forecast to experience heavy smog during Friday, the result of a combination of local pollution trapped near the ground due to climatic conditionsand emissions blown from continental Europe. On the horizon behind the family hangs a notable haze, while the sea air, if inhaled deeply, carries a slight but noticeable acrid tang. The East Sussex city was among a number of areas forecast to experience heavy smog during Friday, the result of a combination of local pollution trapped near the ground due to climatic conditionsand emissions blown from continental Europe.
The problem was sufficiently grave for the government’s air-pollution monitoring system, run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), to advise people with lung problems – such as asthma – or heart conditions to avoid strenuous exertion and expect a possible worsening of symptoms.The problem was sufficiently grave for the government’s air-pollution monitoring system, run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), to advise people with lung problems – such as asthma – or heart conditions to avoid strenuous exertion and expect a possible worsening of symptoms.
As well as Brighton and neighbouring areas such as Eastbourne, other affected regions included Greater London, Yorkshire and Humberside and the West Midlands.As well as Brighton and neighbouring areas such as Eastbourne, other affected regions included Greater London, Yorkshire and Humberside and the West Midlands.
Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation (BLF), said those feeling the effects should also avoid busy roads, especially during rush hour. But she added that the phenomenon, following a similar alert last month, was unjust.Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation (BLF), said those feeling the effects should also avoid busy roads, especially during rush hour. But she added that the phenomenon, following a similar alert last month, was unjust.
“People living with lung conditions shouldn’t have to take such steps simply to avoid being made ill by the air they breathe,” she said. “With periods of high pollution often resulting from a combination of domestically produced pollution and that coming from mainland Europe, we need urgent action from government to clean up the air we breathe – across all government departments, at home and at a pan-European level.”“People living with lung conditions shouldn’t have to take such steps simply to avoid being made ill by the air they breathe,” she said. “With periods of high pollution often resulting from a combination of domestically produced pollution and that coming from mainland Europe, we need urgent action from government to clean up the air we breathe – across all government departments, at home and at a pan-European level.”
While politicians are often fond of emphasising the overseas element of such pollution spikes – especially the occasional phenomenon of Saharan sand blowing across to the UK – a considerable part of the current smog comes from local sources, according to Defra. A spokeswoman for the department said: “In this incident, the majority of the pollution is made up from locally generated particulate matter, which has been trapped closer to the earth because of high pressure and still weather conditions.While politicians are often fond of emphasising the overseas element of such pollution spikes – especially the occasional phenomenon of Saharan sand blowing across to the UK – a considerable part of the current smog comes from local sources, according to Defra. A spokeswoman for the department said: “In this incident, the majority of the pollution is made up from locally generated particulate matter, which has been trapped closer to the earth because of high pressure and still weather conditions.
“This has combined with some pollution coming in from the near continent and a small contribution from Saharan dust.”“This has combined with some pollution coming in from the near continent and a small contribution from Saharan dust.”
Nigel Jenkins from Sussex-Air, a group run by a series of local councils and health bodies, said the Brighton pollution, forecast to possibly hit the rare “very high” level after the evening rush hour, was primarily composed of tiny PM2.5-type particles, which often come from vehicle emissions, especially diesel engines, and industrial pollution. Nigel Jenkins, of Sussex-Air, a group run by a series of local councils and health bodies, said the Brighton pollution – forecast to possibly hit the rare “very high” level after the evening rush hour – was primarily composed of tiny PM2.5-type particles, which often come from vehicle emissions, especially diesel engines, and industrial pollution.
European test standards on diesel vehicles emissions were “not what they should be”, said Jenkins: “There’s a failing in the system with the testing. The test is very much a bench test, and in the real world these engines aren’t performing as they were said to with emissions.” European test standards on diesel vehicles emissions were “not what they should be”, said Jenkins. “There’s a failing in the system with the testing. The test is very much a bench test, and in the real world these engines aren’t performing as they were said to with emissions.”
Last month, authorities in Paris introduced emergency measures to halve the number of vehicles on the city’s roads to curb dangerous smog levels. Last month, authorities in Paris introduced emergency measures to halve the number of vehicles on the city’s roads to curb dangerous smog levels. While such actions worked in big cities, Jenkins said, they would have less of an immediate impact in Brighton: “We are also talking about transboundary pollution here, so unless we stop people driving in northern Germany three or four days ago, it won’t completely stop. But obviously local elements play a part in it.”
While such actions worked in big cities, Jenkins said, they would have less of an immediate impact in Brighton: “We are also talking about transboundary pollution here, so unless we stop people driving in northern Germany three or four days ago, it won’t completely stop. But obviously local elements play a part in it.” In Brighton, the grey haze is forecast to clear on Saturday, which will be a relief for those taking part in the city’s marathon the next day. Along the seafront, few joggers can be seen, but plenty of cyclists are about, in part a product of bike-friendly policies championed by the Green-run local council.
In Brighton, the grey haze is forecast to clear on Saturday, which will be a relief for those taking part in the city’s marathon the next day. Along the seafront, few joggers could be seen, but plenty of cyclists were about, in part a product of bike-friendly policies championed by the Green-run local council. “My friends were saying this morning: ‘You’re mad, don’t go today,’” says Faisal Eboe, a 36-year-old events organiser about to set off on a training ride for a planned London-to-Brighton cycling event. “But if I can feel anything now I think it’s as much psychological as anything else.”
“My friends were saying this morning: ‘You’re mad, don’t go today,’” said Faisal Eboe, a 36-year-old events organiser about to set off on a training ride for a planned London to Brighton cycling event. “But if I can feel anything now I think it’s as much psychological as anything else.” Daniel Mouland, 32, has even more pressing reasons to brave the smog for his 12-mile cycle commute from Worthing, a post-Christmas change that has already seen him lose 2kg. “Apart from the health aspect, it’s the money. If I don’t cycle, it costs me £8 a day on public transport, which I can’t really afford,” he says.
Daniel Mouland, 32, had even more pressing reasons to brave the smog for his 12-mile cycle commute from Worthing, a post-Christmas change that has already seen him lose 2kg. “Apart from the health aspect, it’s the money. If I don’t cycle, it costs me £8 a day on public transport, which I can’t really afford.” Back at the beach, Amanda Argent is thankful neither of her sons are asthmatic. “We’re lucky, as they’re going to be running around all day anyway. If you’ve got a way to stop a four-year-old from running, you can have my job.”
Back at the beach, Amanda Argent was thankful neither of her sons are asthmatic: “We’re lucky, as they’re going to be running around all day anyway. If you’ve got a way to stop a four-year-old from running, you can have my job.”