Scotland’s most polluted and law-breaking streets have been revealed.
Data shows air in Scotland’s biggest city breached legal quality limits in 2021 – despite lockdown measures improving it the year before.
Hope Street in Glasgow is the worst offender, according to research from Friends of the Earth Scotland (FOES).
Experts have linked road pollution to a host of health problems and even death.
The European Ambient Air Quality Directive set a limit for nitrogen dioxide of 40 micrograms per cubic metre, a deadline due to have been met by 2010.
The toxic fume is given off as fossil fuels are burned — with road transport responsible for 50 per cent of global emissions.
Dundee’s Lochee Road and Seagate, Falkirk’s West Bridge Street and Perth’s Atholl Street all recorded levels of about 30 micrograms per cubic metre.
But the Glasgow street recorded an average of 45.4 which FOES said fell foul of the law. The probe also looked at PM10 levels.
PM10 — short for particulate matter — is particles of dust given off by vehicles, which experts say cause health problems and premature death. The Scottish annual statutory standard for PM10 is 18 micrograms per cubic metre.
Edinburgh’s Salamander Street was the worst offender with rates of 15.4 micrograms per cubic metre. Experts have said air pollution kills 2500 people in Scotland each year and raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Paul Wilson, 47, of Beith, Ayrshire, said he believed his health improved after leaving the city.
The social care worker said: “I’ve had serious asthma since I was a child, and have been admitted to hospital over 50 times. I live in a village now but when I lived in Glasgow I had far more attacks. Whenever I’m in the city now I’m aware of my chest being tighter.”
FOES’s transport campaigner, Gavin Thomson, said: “Scotland once again has illegal air quality in 2021, which is shocking but not surprising given the lack of political action.”
Glasgow City Council said: “Glasgow is committed to tackling pollution issues, and has introduced Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone.”
Edinburgh City Council said FOES’s data had not been through official checks yet.
Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said a “positive difference” was noticed in lockdown and the council is “focused on harnessing some of these benefits”.
