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Scotland suffering from air pollution 2000 people a year dying.
17/Sep/2006: Air pollution in Edinburgh (the capital of Scotland) and Glasgow (the largest city in Scotland), is getting worse ever since these cities were ordered to cut down the pollution levels under European Legislation.
Air quality figures released today showed that the nation is suffocating from deadly levels of pollution in spite of the measures taken by the administration, to control emission of harmful gases in to the atmosphere at traffic hotspots.
Nearly 2,000 people are believed to be killed by air pollution every year, in Scotland. Nitrogen dioxide in car exhausts cause lung damages and increases the risk of asthma in children. Four of the five councils in this country designated as Air quality Management Areas (AQMA) have failed to make any significant progress to reduce air pollution. Earlier this year, a new research in this region showed that tiny particulate matter in car exhausts increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases among the local population. Nitrogen dioxide levels in air is increasing in many towns across the country, prompting authorities to add them to the list of managed areas (AQMA).
Environmentalists and health professionals in the region have criticized the administration for not doing enough to improve the air quality. A senior environment protection official said that the nitrogen dioxide levels in the atmosphere have decreased across the country, but the levels are still high enough compared to the standards prescribed by the European Union.
People living in councils designated as AQMA are exposed to the harmful effects of the air pollution and authorities in these councils should take drastic steps to reduce pollution levels in order to protect the residents. People living in urban areas like Edinburgh and Glasgow might remain exposed to the harmful gases in the air for many years to come, as pollution levels in these areas have shown no signs of easing.
Kesavan Siva
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