Friends of the Earth Scotland have reported dangerous levels of pollutants in cities across the country
Scotland’s most polluted streets have been revealed.
Friends of the Earth Scotland has found the section of Hope Street outside Glasgow Central Station has the worst air quality in the country.
Other streets found to have high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide include Queensferry Road and Nicolson Street in Edinburgh and Seagate in Dundee.
Nitrogen dioxide levels on Hope Street in Glasgow averaged 60 micrograms per cubic metre (mcg/m3) last year compared with 58 in 2017 – 50% higher than the legal limit.
Gavin Thomson, air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “These shocking figures show that the air pollution health crisis isn’t going away; in many areas it’s getting worse. With streets in Scotland’s cities still at illegal levels of air pollution, the Scottish Government’s Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy has clearly failed to deliver. The current review of this strategy needs to result in a transformation in transport if we are to clean up Scotland’s air so that it is safe for people.
“Aberdeen, Dundee, and Edinburgh must have Low Emission Zones in place by 2020 and this data shows the scale of the problem that these zones must tackle. Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone, which only impacts a small number of buses initially, is hugely disappointing and will be make no difference in its first year.
“Air pollution is responsible for over 2500 early deaths every year in Scotland. It has been linked with heart attacks, strokes, and cancers, and vulnerable groups such as the young, the elderly and those already suffering ill health are at particular risk. The health evidence on the impact of air pollution is overwhelming. We need to act now.”
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "Compared to the rest of the UK and other parts of Europe, Scotland enjoys a high level of air quality and we have set more stringent air quality targets.
"Low Emission Zones will help further improve the quality of the air in our towns and cities by allowing access to only the cleanest vehicles."
She added: "We recognise that a few hotspots of poorer air quality remain in some Scottish cities and towns, and are working with local authorities and other partners to address this as soon as possible."
