Friends of the Earth
Action Briefing Feb 2000/Mar 2000
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Birmingham Friends of the Earth Action Briefing Feb 2000/Mar 2000 |
UK air quality in 1999 was the worst since modern records began, Friends of the Earth revealed in January. Only five months earlier, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott had hailed the 1998 figures as showing the biggest improvement in air quality since records began.
Friends of the Earth used Government data and methods to calculate an Air Quality Indicator for 1999. This shows, for key monitoring sites around Britain, the average number of days on which air pollution levels were above the Government's air quality standard.
The number of days in 1999 on which air pollution failed to meet health standards rose by 20% in urban areas and 53% in rural areas over 1998. In 1999, pollution levels were above health standards on average one day in eight at rural monitoring sites and one day in 13 at urban monitoring sites.
The Department of Health has estimated that up to 24,000 people a year may die prematurely because of air pollution.
Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth's National Air Pollution Campaigner, said:
"Air pollution showed a record deterioration in 1999 yet the Government is failing to tackle the problem. The Government is refusing to set a target for traffic reduction, despite demands from no less than 430 MPs. Instead Mr Prescott says he will weaken a key air quality target. Parents, pensioners and asthma sufferers will be furious that the Government is pandering to the roads lobby while they choke".