The centre of Leeds had some of the highest recorded levels of pollution in the UK last year, according to official figures.
New data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs showed that 39 hours of “high” and “very high” air pollution were recorded in Leeds centre in 2018.
This is more than double the 15 hours counted in 2017, and more than three times the 11 hours in 2015.
A further 68 hours of “moderate” air pollution were recorded at the site - More than 200 people have died because of transport pollution in Leeds who are more vulnerable to its effects, such as those with respiratory health problems.
Sheffield was the most-polluting hotspot in the UK in 2018, with 46 hours of the most harmful pollution recorded.
The third most highly polluted area was York Bootham, which saw 37 hours of high or very high pollution levels in 2018.
After this at fourth place came Chesterfield in Derbyshire, where 29 hours of high or very high pollution were recorded last year.
Northampton Spring Park in the East Midlands came in fifth place, with 25 hours.
The government records the number of hours each year that airborne particles - called PM2.5 - are present at different sites across the UK.
PM2.5 pollution can come from natural sources such as pollen, sea spray and desert dust, or man made sources such as smoke from fires,
soot from vehicle exhausts, as well as emissions from industry.
These particles pose a risk to human health as they are small enough to be inhaled into the lungs and are known to cause illnesses such as
lung cancer and asthma.
What is Leeds City Council doing about pollution?
Leeds City Council is taking action to reduce the pollution caused by vehicle emissions in the city, and has also declared a 'climate emergency', with an aim to make Leeds carbon neutral by 2030.
Since 2005, the council's carbon use has reduced by around 40 per cent.
The council will also introduce a Clean Air Zone next year, where owners of taxis, coaches and HGVs that don't comply with certain emission standards will be charged for entering.
The council is confident the £29 million scheme, which it was forced to implement by the government, will reduce the number of vehicles on the city's roads.
£23 million available for businesses affected by Clean Air Zone - how to apply for funding
The national picture
Across all sites recording air pollution in urban areas in the UK, an average of 12 hours of high and very high air pollution were recorded
per site in 2018.
That’s down from 21 hours in 2017, and is the lowest number on modern record.
The UK experienced the greatest number of hours of high or very high air pollution in the year 2011, with 92 hours recorded per site on
average.
'Toxic air remains a public health crisis'
Dr Penny Woods, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said: “Although it’s encouraging to see some improvement in the levels of
pollution nationally, we must not be complacent. Toxic air remains a public health crisis, and is linked to multiple health problems including asthma, lung cancer and heart disease.
“This is why we’re calling on the government to enshrine the World Health Organisation’s limit for fine particulate matter into the upcoming Environment Bill.
“Legally binding limits are necessary to ensure no one breathes dangerous levels of pollution, and the Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to guarantee we will all be able to breathe clean air.”
More than 200 people have died because of transport pollution in Leeds
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: “The data shows air pollution has improved significantly since 2010.
“But we recognise there is more to do which is why we are already investing £3.5bn to clean up our air alongside delivering action to tackle pollution through our Clean Air Strategy.
“The World Health Organization has welcomed our Strategy as an ‘example for the rest of the world to follow’ and our forthcoming Environment Bill will deliver new primary legislation on air quality.”
The increased hours of pollution is some areas can be at least partly explained by the UK’s hot and sunny summer last year.
In this type of weather concentrations of ozone can increase, leading in some cases to summertime smog.
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