Defra issues ‘high’ air pollution warning for London

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) issued ‘high’ pollution warnings for most of London yesterday (January 20).

East and central London were the worst hit with unhealthy levels persisting throughout the day, before dropping today (January 21).

When air pollution is forecast as ‘high’, Defra recommends that adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms.

They also say that people with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. 

The government’s Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI) is designed on a 10 point scale, and includes data on five key pollutants: ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM2.5 and PM10.

King’s College London’s monitoring network, London Air, said primary pollutants emitted during Sunday evening, including particulates from domestic wood burning in residential areas, are contributing to the spike – which is not dispersing quickly due to the cold and still weather.

View the forecast here.

Photo Credit – Pixabay