Pinchbeck resident says pollution in the area exceeds World Health Organisation limits
A resident has labelled pollution in the area ‘ridiculously bad’ after tests discovered the air outside his home exceeded three recommended World Health Organisation limits.
A recent air quality report- carried out by Imperial College London - revealed pollutants in the atmosphere could raise the risks of cancer, strokes and heart problems.
One reading was more than double the WHO limit.
“The pollution around this area is ridiculously bad,” said resident George Scott, who shared statistics from outside his Pinchbeck home with this paper.
The study tested for particulate matter (PM), the name given to solid particles and/or liquid droplets in the air, which includes dust, dirt, soot, or smoke.
PM2.5 is the term used to describe inhalable particles with diameters approximately 2.5 micrometres and smaller, while PM10 inhalable particles with approximately diameters 10 micrometers and smaller.
Outside Mr Scott’s Spalding Road property, the survey revealed the annual average of pollutant PM2.5 is 10.17mcg/m3, compared to the WHO’s suggested limit of 5mcg/m3.
“This study shows 19.9% of strokes were attributed to exposure (for a year or more) of PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 10mcg/m3,” it concluded.
“PM2.5 can also cause asthma, jeopardise lung functions and promote cancer.”
The PM10 reading was 16.50mcg/m3, above the limit of 15mcg/m3.
The report added: “Cardiovascular mortality increases by 0.76% and respiratory mortality by 0.58% for every 10mcg/m3 increase in PM10.
“PM10 can cause wheezing, bronchitis and reduce lung development.”
The third pollutant reading tested for nitrogen dioxide (N02).
The reading came back at 16.20mcg/m3, the limit being 10mcg/m3.
“Exposure for a year or more to 30mcg leads to a 5.5% increased risk of disease related mortality,” the findings continued.
Mr Scott founded the Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum and believes these findings only add to his argument for improved local public transport.
He said: “We should be looking at buses, roads and trains.”
