At a recent inquest in London, the Coroner found that a young girl who suffered from asthma had died primarily because of air pollution. The Coroner has now called on the Government to introduce legally binding minimum requirements for clean air which meet with the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHO Guidelines
It might help to illustrate the Coroner’s argument to compare some of the guidelines and the current UK standards. Taking one of the main primary pollutants as an example – particulate matter.
What is particulate matter?
Particulate matter is everything in the air that isn’t a gas and so includes all sorts of chemical compounds, many of which are toxic mixed with dust.
Particulate matter
|
WHO Guideline |
Current UK Standard |
|
10 micrograms per cubic metre annually |
40 micrograms per cubic metre annually |
It can be seen that the current UK standard is way in excess of the WHO Guideline.
Legally binding targets
In response to the Coroner, the UK Government has now agreed to introduce legally binding targets for air pollution. We don’t yet know what the targets will be. In particular, we don’t know if they will meet the WHO Guidelines. The Government has said though that its targets will be shaped by the WHO Guidelines. If the targets whatever level they are set at, were then failed to be met, then at some point the Government, or other public authorities could become liable for death or injury caused as a result of air pollution which fails to meet the targets.
How we can help
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