Families across Greater Manchester have been left without clear public health advice as thick wildfire smoke spreads across the city today, despite pollution levels reaching many times higher than the World Health Organization’s daily guideline.
Campaigners using a handheld AtmoPro air quality monitor recorded a spot PM2.5 reading of 196 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) at 11.20am in Didsbury. While this was an instantaneous measurement rather than a 24-hour average, it is around 13 times higher than the World Health Organization’s 24-hour PM2.5 guideline of 15 µg/m³, illustrating how severe smoke concentrations became during the event.
Residents described smoky skies, poor visibility and the acrid smell of burning vegetation drifting across neighbourhoods.
Despite the visible smoke affecting communities across Greater Manchester, campaigners say residents received no coordinated public health messaging advising people to reduce exposure, protect vulnerable family members or adjust outdoor activities. They also question why DEFRA’s online air pollution information continued to indicate “low” pollution levels while smoke was clearly affecting parts of Greater Manchester.
Parents have expressed concern that there are no dedicated school air pollution alerts comparable to those used in London to help schools reduce children’s exposure during severe pollution episodes.
Liz Godfrey – Greater Manchester coordinator for Mums for Lungs said:
“Families can see the smoke, they can smell it and they can taste it. Parents are understandably worried about their children breathing this air, yet there has been no obvious public health warning telling people how to protect themselves from the health effects of wildfire smoke. Why are Greater Manchester residents not being warned?”
“We are calling on local and national leaders to visit the sites of the wildfires and convene an emergency meeting today with public health leaders, the fire service and local councils to coordinate a response. Residents need clear health advice, schools need guidance, and vulnerable people deserve timely warnings when air pollution reaches hazardous levels. The Prime Minister must make tackling air pollution and the climate crisis a priority, as rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves increase the risks facing communities across the UK”
