Air pollution reached "very high" levels in urban areas across England on Monday, as still, foggy weather kept emissions from dispersing over towns and cities. Government monitoring sites that measure fine particulate matter recorded the worst readings in the capital and in Greater Manchester, where a number of stations reached the top band of the ten-point air quality index.
In total, 11 sites recorded readings in the highest category, most of them in London and Greater Manchester. A further 27 sites registered "high" levels. The affected areas stretch beyond the capital and the north-west to parts of the Midlands, Yorkshire and the east of England, showing how widely the stagnant conditions spread across the country. The figures cover the 24 hours leading up to 10am on Monday.
Fireworks and bonfires over the weekend are likely to have added to the problem, although the source material treats their contribution as probable rather than confirmed. Such displays release fine particles into the air, and when weather conditions prevent them from clearing, the pollution lingers at street level for longer.
Particulate levels across the affected sites were well above the daily guideline set by the World Health Organization for these pollutants. Fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, which is why health guidance typically advises people with asthma, heart or lung conditions, along with older adults and young children, to limit time outdoors when readings are high. The exact concentration figures for individual sites were not part of the available reporting.
Credit. Based on reporting by Matthew Pearce for The Guardian. Is this your work? Write to us.
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