Portsmouth sees highest drop in nitrous dioxide pollution in England during lockdown

AIR pollution in Portsmouth has more than halved during the outbreak of coronavirus, as the city saw the largest drop in nitrous dioxide in the whole of England.
By Fiona Callingham
Published 27th Mar 2020, 16:00 BST
Updated 27th Mar 2020, 16:43 BST
The crossing at Anglesea Road in Portsmouth which has seen the highest reduction in NO2 pollution in England during the coronavirus outbreakThe crossing at Anglesea Road in Portsmouth which has seen the highest reduction in NO2 pollution in England during the coronavirus outbreak
The crossing at Anglesea Road in Portsmouth which has seen the highest reduction in NO2 pollution in England during the coronavirus outbreak

Between March 17 and 24 this year an average of 13.7 NO2 micrograms per cubic metre was recorded at one of the city's busiest roads.

This was significantly down from readings taken in the same spot in Anglesea Road between March 19 and 26 last year, when NO2 levels were 37 - close to the 'safe limit' of 40.

Read More
Portsmouth's air quality is worse than parts of London - but what can we do abou...
NO2 pollution is caused by emissions from cars, trucks and buses and power plants.NO2 pollution is caused by emissions from cars, trucks and buses and power plants.
NO2 pollution is caused by emissions from cars, trucks and buses and power plants.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It comes as a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown has resulted in people only travelling for essential reasons.

Portsmouth City Council's environment boss, Councillor Dave Ashmore, said the data highlighted the effect of car use in the city. He said: 'It shows that the volume of car usage has a direct impact on levels of NO2.

'According to Public Health England 90 people in Portsmouth die every year due to air pollution. If 90 people a year died from something else we would be saying this is horrific, because it is.

'We know that air pollution effects people's breathing and can cause them to have respiratory problems.

Environmental campaigner Nick Sebley believed more should be done to tackle pollution after the lockdown. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (071219-8)Environmental campaigner Nick Sebley believed more should be done to tackle pollution after the lockdown. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (071219-8)
Environmental campaigner Nick Sebley believed more should be done to tackle pollution after the lockdown. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (071219-8)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'This data could have knock-on effect on how do things in the future when trying to get people out of their cars. We are already working to make public transport more accessible and greener - through retrofitting buses - and installing more electric vehicle charging points.'

The data, which was compiled by the BBC shared data unit, revealed that in the UK the highest drop in NO2 was in Hafodyrynys in Wales. Between the two weeks NO2 levels dropped from 72.6 to 41.1.

NO2 levels also reduced along the A33 in Southampton from 40.1 to 21.9.

Environmental activists believed this presented an 'opportunity' to consider our emissions in the future.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Portsmouth air quality campaigner Tim Sheerman-Chase said: 'We have taken action to reduce the risk of Covid-19, but this has also shown that air quality improvements are possible in principle, if we have the political will.'

Extinction Rebellion Portsmouth member Nick Sebley added: 'There’s a real opportunity to build on these positives to tackle the air pollution and climate emergencies.'

The three largest drops, above Portsmouth, in NO2 in the UK were in Hafodyrynys and Chepstow in Wales and Edinburgh in Scotland.

Related topics:PortsmouthEnglandCovid-19Wales

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.