Using Freedom of Information (FoI) requests Musselburgh-based Green campaigner Jason Rose has discovered that pollution from vehicles in the town’s High Street is so bad that experts have warned East Lothian Council to prepare to declare the county’s only Air Quality Management Area.
The FoI requests reveal a report prepared for the council by consultants AEA in June last year suggested that levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant from vehicle exhausts known to increase the chance of respiratory problems, have breached World Health Organisation guidelines on the High Street and on Bridge Street.
The FoI requests also reveal a report by Environmental Protection Officers (EPO) prepared for the council last November stated a progress report was due by April this year but in response to Mr Rose’s enquiries the council have confirmed that this report is still being prepared and won’t be available for some months yet.
All this comes as a consultation on proposed improvements to Musselburgh town centre closes (31 July), and East Lothian Greens are concerned that the proposals do not include adequate measures to tackle the serious air pollution situation.
East Lothian Greens campaigner Jason Rose said:
“The fact that the public has not been made aware of this serious problem is alarming. This sort of pollution is hard to see but it’s a real risk, especially for children, the elderly or those with conditions such as asthma.
“It’s worrying that the results of last year’s additional monitoring still aren’t available. This sort of delay is unacceptable, and suggests East Lothian Council are not making this issue the priority it should be.
“Many of the council’s proposals to improve Musselburgh town centre have merit but it’s a real concern that very little is proposed to improve the poor quality of the air we’re breathing in. The authority appears to be putting great faith in revised traffic light sequences and possibly relocating a bus stop or two. They need to be bolder and they need to involve the community.”
You can download the AEA report here and the EPO report here.
Highlights from the AEA report include:
The “objective” is to avoid NO2 levels greater than 40 ug/m3. Modelling suggests this has happened on High St and Bridge St.
ELC are looking at altering traffic light sequences to reduce congestion and location of bus stops.
AEA recommended ELC declare an AQMA if monitoring from 2012 confirmed modelling. Monitoring results were expected by May 2013.
AEA recommended installation of additional motoring.
AEA recommended local traffic surveys to understand flows and composition.
The A199 is a busy trunk road and there are “street canyons” that trap polluted air.
Musselburgh High Street average daily flow of vehicles was 17,500 in 2010; 17,800 in 2011.
Concentrations of pollutants were modelled at a height of 1.5m to reflect adult inhalation.
Pollution is likely to have exceeded guidelines at 15 locations.
There is a hotspot on Bridge St outside the library, and on High St at bus stops, shops and at the junction with Newbigging.
Monitoring sites are at 15 Bridge St, 167 High St, 137 High St, 69 High St, 86 High St.
There are up to 500 buses a day on the High St.
The results of monitoring at 147 High St from 2011 show it exceeded guidelines for every month of the year with a high point of 66 ug/m3 in March.
At Newbigging levels exceeded guidelines for half the year, and at 183 High St and 150 North High St they exceeded for more than half the year.
Highlights from the EPO report include:
A progress report is due for submission by the end of April 2013.
The major source of pollution is road traffic.
Under “proposed actions” the report copies part of the conclusion of the AEA report from June, mentioning the recommendation to set up an AQMA if the results from 2012 agree with the modelling. But there is no mention of AEA’s recommendations on additional monitoring or traffic surveys.
World Health Organisation advice:
There is evidence that long-term exposure to NO2 at concentrations above 40 µg/m3 can decrease lung function and increase the risk of respiratory problems.
The main effect of breathing in raised levels of nitrogen dioxide is the increased likelihood of respiratory problems. Nitrogen dioxide inflames the lining of the lungs, and it can reduce immunity to lung infections. This can cause problems such as wheezing, coughing, colds, flu and bronchitis.
Increased levels of nitrogen dioxide can have significant impacts on people with asthma because it can cause more frequent and more intense attacks. Children with asthma and older people with heart disease are most at risk.
NOx react with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form small particles. These small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease, such as emphysema and bronchitis, and can aggravate existing heart disease, leading to increased hospital admissions and premature death.
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