AIR pollution from exhaust fumes has increased on streets in Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Falkirk and Perth, according to the latest government monitoring.
Legal limits for toxins from traffic were also breached at seven busy city streets across Scotland in 2019, harming health and increasing the risks of cancers, strokes and heart attacks.
The annual limits were meant to have been met in 2010. But at three locations – Hope Street in Glasgow, St John’s Road in Edinburgh and Seagate in Dundee – they have now been exceeded for the last eight years.
Campaigners condemned the pollution as “shameful”, warned that millions were at risk and accused authorities of failing to protect the most vulnerable citizens. The Scottish Government and local councils highlighted the efforts they were making to cut pollution levels.
For the first time in 2019 Academy Street in Inverness recorded concentrations in air of the toxic exhaust gas, nitrogen dioxide, in breach of the 40 micrograms per cubic metre limit. Levels were 15 per cent higher than in 2018.
The nitrogen dioxide limit was also exceeded at Nicolson Street in Edinburgh and Lochee Road in Dundee in 2019. The limit for tiny sooty particles, known as PM10s, was provisionally breached at Salamander Street in Edinburgh.
Significant rises in nitrogen dioxide or PM10 levels between 2018 and 2019 were recorded at Byres Road in Glasgow, in the middle of Bearsden in East Dunbartonshire and on the A8 near the Newbridge roundabout on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
There were also pollution increases on Broughty Ferry Road in Dundee, at Bainsford and Grangemouth in Falkirk, on Perth High Street and near the centre of Motherwell in North Lanarkshire.
READ MORE: Climate change: UN secretary-general warns of ‘economic disaster’
Friends of the Earth Scotland, which compiled the figures from the Scottish Government’s online database, blamed cars for the pollution. “These figures are shameful,” said the environmental group’s air pollution campaigner, Gavin Thomson.
“They show that air pollution is failing to improve across Scotland, which means millions of us are at risk of serious health conditions, like asthma, heart attacks, and strokes.
“In many areas, pollution problems appear to be getting worse. This is dangerous for our health, and is a failure of the Government to protect its most vulnerable citizens.”
Thomson pointed out that pollution from traffic also disrupted the climate. “Our transport system is unsustainable. It is harming our lungs, and causing climate change,” he argued.
“If we don’t start prioritising greener transport over fossil fuelled cars, we’ll keep burning the earth and keep breathing in toxic fumes. The Government should start by committing to no new road building, and investing the billions that would be saved into public transport, walking and cycling.”
He added: “We are all at risk from toxic traffic fumes but children and the elderly are at particular risk. By ending the chokehold of cars on our public spaces, we can open our streets up and create healthier, safer communities.”
Keir Murdo, a 34-year-old data analyst who lives in Glasgow, described air pollution as an injustice. He said: “I have a young son and I’m really concerned about what he’s breathing in, and the lack of action to reduce pollution. I’d like to see the Government and Glasgow City Council respond with the ambition we need, for air pollution and for climate emissions.”
Claire Connachan, a resident of Corstorphine in Edinburgh, was concerned about the pollution in her area. “Having experienced a serious lung condition, it worries me that I am breathing such dirty air when I want to go to the local shops,” she said.
READ MORE: Study finds a third of childhood asthma caused by air pollution
“Air pollution in Corstorphine is a huge problem; the area has been home to one of Scotland’s most polluted streets for many years and air quality is yet to be markedly improved.”
Kirsty Martin, a photographer and community arts worker in Dundee, pointed out that her children walked along the city’s Seagate every weekday to get the bus home from school. “It makes me very angry that they and everyone else who regularly walks here are subjected to such disgusting levels of pollution,” she said.
“It is horribly ironic that those who are travelling by bus for whatever reason, in some cases to avoid using a polluting car, are having to breathe in this foul air to get to and from the city’s bus station.”
Local authorities stressed that they were endeavouring to reduce pollution levels – and that they needed investment from the Scottish Government to help them.
Councillor Steven Heddle, environment spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), said: “Scottish local government is well aware of the health impacts of carbon intensive transport emissions.
“We are addressing this through a wide range of measures such as the promotion of active and public transport or the creation of low emission zones.”
Councils supported “cleaner, greener” public transport, Heddle argued. “If the Scottish Government is serious about protecting its most vulnerable citizens from air pollution then it must invest in Scotland’s councils in this year’s budget,” he added.
Glasgow City Council listed its initiatives to cut air pollution. “A wide range of work is underway in Glasgow to encourage higher levels of active travel, drive up standards in public transport and reduce the reliance on private vehicles,” said a council spokesperson.
“The £115 million city deal avenues project will transform the urban realm of 21 major streets in Glasgow city centre to encourage more walking, cycling and economic growth. Similar plans for Byres Road will also support a focus on cycling, reduce the availability of car parking and create a better environment.”
Glasgow’s low emission zone meant that at least 40 percent of bus journeys through the city centre would now meet the required emission standard.
READ MORE: Alison Johnstone: Our transport policies are a road to nowhere
“By the end of 2022 this will rise to 100 percent at which time the zone will broaden in scope and become applicable to all other vehicle types, including taxis and private cars,” the spokesperson added.
“The recently introduced bus gate on Oswald St is steering hundreds of vehicles away from Hope Street every hour, which will help to reduce emissions in the area.”
City of Edinburgh Council stressed that it was 100 percent committed to improving air quality.
“This week we published our ambitious draft city mobility plan which, as well as addressing climate change and population growth, recognises the threat to health posed by poor air quality,” said transport and environment convener, councillor Lesley Macinnes.
“By prioritising clean, sustainable and active travel this bold strategy is exactly what’s needed to tackle the issue. We’re already taking actions to deal with the problem too, promoting greener transport via active travel or bus, tram or electric vehicles and encouraging lower emission freight transport.”
Macinnes argued that long term trends showed that concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and tiny particles were generally going down. “We have seen great improvements on St John’s Road, but we know there is still work to be done,” she added.
According to the Highland Council, air quality in its region was generally very good. “The ongoing work in local air quality management undertaken by the council has, however, identified an area within Inverness city centre where annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations were exceeding the UK air quality strategy objective,” said environmental health technical officer, Nick Thornton.
The area included Academy Street, and the pollution was being tackled in conjunction with partners, he added. “An action plan has been drafted that seeks to identify actions that will improve air quality.”
Dundee City Council agreed that vehicle emissions were bad for people and the environment.
“The issue of improving air quality in Dundee for residents and visitors is one that is high up our agenda,” said Kevin Cordell, convener of the council’s community safety committee.
“Various agencies in the city, including the council, are working on a number of measures to ensure emissions are reduced. One key part of that is the work of the Dundee low emission zone delivery group.”
Cordell stressed that the annual average data for Lochee Road in Dundee for 2019 was provisional. But he added: “It does indicate an improvement compared with the previous year.”
Falkirk Council accepted that “fluctuations” meant that pollution had increased at the Bainsford and Grangemouth sites.
“However pollutant levels remained within the relevant national air quality strategy objectives which are designed to protect public health,” said a council spokesperson.
“Falkirk Council has a range of measures as outlined in the annual air quality progress report designed to help reduce localised air pollution from road traffic and other sources.”
READ MORE: Calls for packaging reduction increases among consumers
The Scottish Government maintained it was working hard to improve air quality. Its “cleaner air” strategy was reviewed in 2019, and an updated strategy would be developed and consulted on in 2020.
The Government pointed out that pollution levels at Hope Street in Glasgow had reduced, and that it was investing more than £1 billion in public and sustainable transport each year. A extra £500m had also been committed to bus priority measures.
“We have seen significant reductions in pollution emissions in recent decades through tighter industrial regulation, improved fuel quality, cleaner vehicles and an increased focus on sustainable transport,” said a Scottish Government spokesperson.
“Scotland enjoys a high level of air quality compared to the rest of the UK and other parts of Europe and we have set more stringent air quality targets.
“Low emission zones (LEZs) will help further improve air quality in towns and cities by preventing access by the dirtiest vehicles.” The spokesperson added: “We made more than £18m available in 2019-20 to support local authorities and fleet operators with the financial costs of establishing, and preparing for LEZs and we will continue to provide support in order to protect public health.
“We are providing practical and financial support to local authorities in tackling local air pollution hotspots. This includes a total of £4.5m in annual funding.”
The Ferret is an editorially independent, not-for-profit co-operative run by its journalists and subscribers. You can find it at https://theferret.scot/ and can subscribe for £3 a month here: https://theferret.scot/subscribe/
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel