Air Pollution Nearly Twice Legal Limit

Highest pollution levels in Brentford unsurprisingly by A4/M4

Air Quality Monitors installed in July by Hounslow Green Party show nearly twice the legal limit of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by the A4 and M4.

Jenny Jones, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb and Diane Scott

The monthly average measurement for Brentford's 36 monitors was 49.07 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter), well above the EU maximum limit of 40 µg/m3. Monitors giving readings nearly twice this limit were located at the intersections between the A4 and Ealing Road, outside the University of West London halls of residence, and the point where the M4 forks away from the A4.

The measurements were made between the last week of school and the first three weeks of the summer holidays when traffic is generally lighter across London, so a lower average was expected.

The A4 consists of six lanes of traffic plus the four elevated lanes of the M4. There are cycling and pedestrian paths and the road is surrounded by houses, schools and businesses. The monitors were installed at key traffic junctions at the A4 and broader geographical area to map pollution measurements. Brentford NO2 levels were similar to other areas of London measured by communities supported by Mapping for Change.

Nico Fekete, press officer of Hounslow Green Party said: “We are aware air monitoring is costly for taxpayers and London councils and only serves to confirm what we already know: emissions are too high. Add to this EU fines, NHS costs and 9400 deaths related to air pollution and we can only conclude air pollution is not a distant threat and we need to clean-up our air today”.

The results were presented by Louise Francis, Chief Executive of Mapping for Change, the organisation behind the monitoring, at the Chorley Institute of University College London. “NO2 is a noxious substance and has been associated to a number cardiovascular diseases” Francis said. She added: “Research suggests that different driver behaviours, such as braking and acceleration can influence local air quality. In 20 mph speed zones  brake and tyre wear, which contributes to particulate pollution, is significantly reduced”.

Hounslow Green Party is supporting the introduction of a 20 mph limit in Hounslow to improve road safety and air quality; similarly we oppose developments in parks and green-field sites as well as any airport expansion. The London Green Party supports the phasing-out of diesel vehicles and improved testing standards for automobiles.

Residents can view the full results here.

October 9, 2015