Along with fifteen other areas of the country Greater Manchester has breached legal air pollution limits for nitrogen dioxide.

According to the European Commission, road traffic is responsible for around 40% of emissions of nitrogen oxides in the EU, with the contribution at ground level much higher.

Around four fifths of nitrogen oxides which come from traffic come from diesel-powered vehicles, the Commission said.

The Commission’s spokesman Enrico Brivio told a briefing in Brussels:
“It is a warning that we send to member states asking to comply, to take measures to fight this poor air quality that provokes respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease.

It is an important factor on the health of citizens.

So we ask the UK, as the other four member states, to take appropriate measures to fight this type of air pollution and we hope they comply.”

Greater Manchester joins London, Birmingham, Leeds, and Glasgow among the sixteen area while
Germany, France, Spain and Italy were also served with warnings over nitrogen dioxide levels.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here