Pollution fall offers welcome breath of fresh air

Walkers and tourists visiting the North York Moors last summer savoured the cleanest air the National Park has enjoyed in well over a decade, according to new data released by the Government.

On Saturday the Yorkshire Post launched its third annual environment awards, aiming to recognise businesses, groups and individuals across the region for their important and often pioneering environmental work.

Entrants have until April 1 to submit applications.

This newspaper revealed last March how levels of ozone – a pollutant which can cause respiratory problems for asthma sufferers –recorded on the North York Moors have been among the highest in Britain over recent years.

The toxin is formed when pollutants blow in from other areas and then react with strong sunlight, often many miles from where the original pollution was created.

New readings for 2010 show quantities of ozone plummeted on the Moors to acceptable levels for the first time in over a decade.

The news was warmly welcomed by environment officers, who say the Moors are entirely at the mercy of weather patterns and far-off pollution levels.

However, the data also showed urban parts of Yorkshire continue to suffer serious air pollution problems, with Shipley Airedale Road in Bradford still among the most polluted streets in Britain.

Doncaster and York also continue to suffer with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – one of the main pollutants from vehicle emissions – far above permitted levels in some areas.

The Government monitors different types of air pollutant owing to the serious health problems related to the issue. A study last year showed air pollution is responsible for the early deaths of up to 50,000 people in Britain each year – more than passive smoking, road accidents or obesity.

In 2009 the quantities of ozone recorded at High Muffles, a secluded hamlet mid-way between Pickering and the Heartbeat village of Goathland, were the second-worst in Britain.

On 40 different days during 2009 the quantities monitored breached acceptable levels. In 2008 ozone levels breached permitted levels on 42 days.

But data for 2010 shows there were just eight days in the entire year with large quantities of ozone – the fewest in over a decade.

Levels at other ozone problem areas such as Weybourne, in Norfolk, remained high.

The news was warmly welcomed by Rachel McIntosh of the North York Moors Park Authority, who said: “Ozone levels are based largely on factors outside of our control, but we’re obviously pleased the recent results paint a much more positive picture.

“Those of us who live, work and play in the Moors know how unspoilt it is – if these new figures encourage even more people to come and enjoy this special place, we’d be delighted.”

Levels of NO2 from vehicle emissions remain high in many urban parts of the region, however.

York continues to have problems due to its combination of narrow, closed-in streets and heavy congestion, while Doncaster also has high levels of air pollution.

But Bradford remains the worst affected city. In 2009 Shipley Airedale Road was revealed to have higher NO2 levels than any other street in the country.

Council officers said that 2010 figures were broadly unchanged, and that a new air quality strategy will be launched later this year.

Environmental health manager Brian Anderson said: “Air pollution in Bradford has stayed roughly the same over the past few years. Figures vary between months, but the yearly averages are virtually static.

“Improving air quality is a priority. However, it involves much more than analysing single sites or tackling individual causes – we are currently working with partners to create a strategy that takes a broad approach at tackling the issue.”