Government monitoring showed particulate pollution reached the highest band at 11 English sites during the 24 hours ending at 5 a.m. ET (10 a.m. GMT) Monday, as fog and light winds trapped emissions.
UK-AIR, the government’s air-quality monitoring service, recorded a 24-hour mean of 129 micrograms per cubic meter for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at Hillingdon in west London. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter, making the Hillingdon reading about 8.6 times that level. UK-AIR measurements are based on data from the Environment Agency.
The 11 sites in the highest band were mainly in London and Greater Manchester. Another 27 sites registered high pollution across London, northwest England, the Midlands, Yorkshire and eastern England.
Jane Burston, chief executive of the Clean Air Fund, told The Guardian that monitoring networks could not pinpoint the sources behind the readings. She said autumn bonfires and fireworks were a likely contributor and warned that people with asthma or lung conditions could face particular risks.
Larissa Lockwood, director of campaigns at Global Action Plan, identified household burning, transport and industry as particulate sources, The Guardian reported. She called for a public-health campaign and “burn alerts” asking people in towns and cities to avoid wood burners when pollution is high. A Clean Air Greater Manchester spokesperson told the outlet that particulate pollution typically rises around Bonfire Night, with fog and light winds also contributing this year.
UK-AIR forecast mostly low pollution for Tuesday, though some central areas could still have high levels. It expected stronger winds by midweek to bring generally lower readings.
