Air pollution has been linked to more than three out of every 100 deaths in Scotland’s main cities.
The proportion of deaths related to the deadly toxin PM2.5 are highest in Edinburgh, with the latest data linking it to 157 deaths in one year – 3.7 per cent of all adult deaths in the city.
But Glasgow has seen the most deaths overall in Scotland – 354 in one year, equating to 3.4 per cent of all deaths.
In total, an estimated 628 deaths were PM2.5-related in Scotland’s four main cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee in one year.
The figures are from research and policy institute Centre for Cities’ annual study of the UK’s major urban areas, Cities Outlook 2020.
It says transport is “a significant, but not sole contributor to air pollution”, with burning fuels also a major cause.
Half of deadly PM2.5 toxins generated in cities and large towns come from sources such as coal fires and wood-burning stoves.
Linda McLeod, 70, suffers from emphysema, a lung condition mainly caused by smoking and pollution.
And while she admits she was a smoker, she says the pollution aggravates her condition.
She can no longer go by bus from her home in Alloa to Stirling to use pulmonary rehab facilities because the exhaust fumes at Stirling bus station affect her so badly.
Linda, chairwoman of Breathe Easy in Clackmannanshire, a support group run by the British Lung Foundation, said: “It doesn’t surprise me so many deaths in Scotland are being linked to pollution.
When I look out my window, I can see the exhaust fumes coming out.”
Centre for Cities wants ultra-low emission zones in city centres and a ban on the use of wood-burning stoves and coal fires in areas where air pollution exceeds guidelines.
Chief executive Andrew Carter said: “People in Scotland should be at the centre of the fight against toxic air and councils should take the steps needed, including charging people to drive in city centres and banning
wood-burning stoves.
“The Government needs to provide Scottish councils with extra money and introduce stricter guidelines. Failure to act now will lead to more deaths in Scotland.”
