Pollution level fourth highest in Hook Rise (From Surrey Comet)

Pollution level fourth highest in Hook Rise

10:21am Friday 17th June 2005 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

The pollution measurements taken from the A3 roadside in Hook Rise show the fourth highest concentration of harmful pollutants out of more than 60 government measuring sites.

The league tables show the average concentrations of pollutant PM10, which the World Health Organisation has said has no safe level, from January to May of this year.

The levels, averaging 29 micrograms of pollutant per cubic metre of air, are the same as those in Bradford and Leeds city centres but fall behind Marylebone Road in London which has a level of 41.

The pollutant comes mainly from diesel engines so a high level beside the A3, which sees traffic volumes of 112,000 vehicles per day, is perhaps unsurprising.

It has, however, led to calls for diesel engine manufacturers to do more to prevent the pollutant, which can now be filtered from the air.

Poor air quality can cause lung disease and can lead to premature death.