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HEALTH

8 December 2014 Last updated at 00:36

Air l

 

New schools, care homes and hospitals should be built far away from major roads because

of the dangers of air pollution, a report by MPs says.

The Environmental Audit Committee argues air pollution is a "public health crisis" causing nearly as

many deaths as smoking.

It also suggested a scrappage scheme for diesel cars to cut emissions.

The government said it was "investing heavily" in c lean air, but campaigners said it was ignoring

the issue.

There are an estimated 29,000 deaths annually in the UK from air pollution.

Nitrogen dioxide is known to cause inflammation of the airways, reduce lung function and

exacerbate asthma.

Particulate matter - tiny invisible specks of mineral dust, carbon and other chemicals - are linked to

heart and lung diseases as well as cancer.

Some particulate matter lodges in the lungs, while the finest particles can enter the bloodstream,

risking damage elsewhere in the body.

'Forecasts'

Joan Walley, the committee chairwoman, told the BBC: "There is a public health crisis in terms of 

poor air quality.

"There are nearly as many deaths now caused by air pollution as there are from smoking, so the

main thing is we stop a new generation of children being exposed."

She said government "should make it impossible" for new schools, care home or health clinics to

be built in pollution hotspots.

She added that "well over a thousand" schools were already near major roads and that it "made

sound economic sense" to filter the air coming into the buildings.

The committee's report says traffic is responsible for 42% of carbon monoxide, 46% of nitrogen

By James Gallagher Health editor, BBC News website

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oxides and 26% of particulate matter pollution.

It said government had promoted diesel vehicles as they produced less of the greenhouse gas

carbon dioxide.

But the committee said diesel was now seen as "the most significant driver of air pollution in our 

cities".

They called for government to pay for diesel drivers to upgrade their engines or for a national

scrappage scheme to take the most polluting vehicles off the road.

Other measures suggested include:

The Met Office and BBC producing high pollution forecasts alongside ones for pollen and UV.

 A national plan for "low emission zones" to tackle heavily polluting vehicles, like the one in London.

Changes to fuel duty to encourage low nitrogen dioxide vehicles as well as low carbon dioxide.

Financial incentives for alternative fuels.

Encourage walking and cycling as the "ultimate low emission" option

Dr Ian Mudway, a lecturer in respiratory toxicology at King's College London, told the BBC: "The

evidence is there. The 29,000 figure is very solid, so really it is a case of acting.

"But it is a strange one, because it's their third [report] in five years and it is an attempt to get the

government to do anything."

The British Lung Foundation said the recommendations "may seem drastic", but air pollution was

so bad they were necessary "to protect the nation's health".

"Our dirty air will simply not clean itself, and this issue is one that will, without the government's

intervention, continue to impact on current and future generations," said Dr Penny Woods, the

charity's chief executive.

 Asthma UK said air pollution increased the risk of a life-threatening attack and "urgent and

concerted action" was needed to bring pollution levels down.

Chief executive Kay Boycott said: "In the short term some of the measures recommended in this

report, such as the publicising of high air pollution forecasts, could help people with asthma know

in advance if they should seek advice from their GP or asthma nurse."

Simon Gillespie, the chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: "The government cannot

continue to ignore this issue.

"Enough is enough. The government must act on these recommendations quickly if we are to

improve the quality of the air we breathe and protect the nation's heart health."

 A government spokesperson said there would be a full response to the report in the future, but

added: "Clean air is vital for people's health and, while air quality has improved significantly inrecent decades, we are investing heavily in measures across government to continue this,

committing £2bn since 2011 in green transport initiatives."

 

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300. purple

JUST NOW

286.farkyss

2 Minutes ago

@272.purple

Bad move. No marks for the sympathy card.

Cars kill and produce an increasing HUGE cohort of crippled injured

entirely the consequence of infatuation with personal mobility. Stated

policy.

The number of long term injured from RTA is staggering, the effect on livesdevastating. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30374254

Try Phsyio at work.

LINK TO THIS

299. Sean

JUST NOW

269. D Dortman "you've never actually"

I rebuilt my first house 20 years ago near a new cycle track, regularly

carried sand, cement, reclaimed materials (exceeding 200kg) from an

industrial area 12km away on a bike trailer. I've taken my 2 kids and one of 

their friends in a bike trailer (~100kg) on a few 20km days out on hilly

moorland this year.

It's easily doable - away from motor vehicles.

LINK TO THIS

298. happy_is_a_choice

1 MINUTE AGO

We're at the point where the only ethical thing to do is:

Give up your day job (pollution getting there and electricity usage on the

computer / internet (2 g00gle searches is like boiling a kettle))

Don't buy anything - most supply chains are terrible polluters

Grow everything - small scale generation

Stop paying tax to gov who start wars and encourage large corporations

Simple

LINK TO THIS

297. ohmygod666

1 MINUTE AGO

It will never happen we desperately need a miracle to change the way we

travel. Although we agree that driving causes air pollution, stress, expense

,eyesore , and bad manners we will also agree never to part with them.

Until the day comes where we move a metre a hour and fuel cost £100 litre

will we stop ???

LINK TO THIS

296. nefer2 MINUTES AGO

So its suddenly a 'deadly public crisis.'

I suppose it will be argued that the 'deadly public crisis' has nothing to do

with the notion of carbon taxes then?

LINK TO THIS

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