Air pollution has more than halved on one of Perth ’s busiest streets as a result of the coronavirus lockdown.
Research conducted by Ricardo Energy and Environment on behalf of Scottish Air Quality shows a 57 per cent drop in nitrogen dioxide emissions on the city’s Atholl Street compared to the same period last year.
The results published at the beginning of the month measured the data from March 23, the start of lockdown, to April 29, and also highlight that PM10 (smoke and dust particulates) have dropped by 36 per cent and the smaller PM2.5 emissions by 42 per cent.
A similar system monitored by Scottish Air Quality on Perth ’s High Street indicates that pollution levels are at a ‘low’ level, highlighting that the huge drop in the number of vehicles travelling through the Fair City is improving air quality.
A statement from the report reads: “The current lockdown measures in place to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic drop in road traffic within Scotland’s cities.
“It is well established that road traffic is the main source of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) within these cities and so it is safe to assume that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations will have decreased during the lockdown.
“The current situation provides an opportunity to investigate what improved air quality within Scotland’s cities could look like in the future.
“It is important to note that this type of analysis doesn’t take into account the important influence of weather on ambient pollutant concentrations.”
Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell welcomed the news but cautioned against complacency.
He said: “The improvement in Atholl Street’s air quality during the lockdown is unsurprising, because we know pollution from vehicles is one of the main causes of dirty air.
“This improvement must be maintained once we’re through the pandemic as the health benefits for the people Perth will be enormous.
“We can’t let one of the few silver linings of this terrible situation pass us by.
“We should be ensuring our streets are safer and cleaner going forward.
“In the meantime I’m putting forward amendments to emergency legislation which will create the space needed for people to walk and cycle while maintaining social distance, allowing everyone to enjoy cleaner safer streets.”
