Soton Under Fire for Breaching Air Pollution Levels

Southampton has got itself in a spot of bother with the World Health Organisation after breaching air pollution safety levels.

The global health body recently revealed the list of nine UK urban areas found guilty of exceeding the safe limit of atmospheric particulate matter, known as PM10. Other cities under fire include Birmingham, Leeds and London.

Some towns and cities which were expected to score highly, including Manchester, Bournemouth and Northampton, failed to provide data.

The majority of pollution in Southampton is generated by gridlocked traffic, an issue which has become more severe in recent months.

Guilty as charged:

• Birmingham
• Chesterfield
• Leeds
• London
• Nottingham
• Sheffield
• Southampton
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Thurrock

Adverse health effects associated with inhaling particulate matter include asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illnesses and birth defects. Figures released in January by the Department of Health revealed that 6.3% of deaths in Southampton can be attributed to air pollution, an increase from 6.2% in 2010.

Keith Taylor, South East Green Party MEP told the Daily Echo:

I have been very concerned about the air pollution in Southampton for several years now. The risks highlighted by the WHO together with British doctors point to air pollution, mainly from traffic, being the second biggest environmental killer.