Fine particle air pollution limits have been met or exceeded in more than 40 UK towns and cities, with Port Talbot the worst, and cities including Manchester and Leeds appearing in the bottom 10. Research by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found 18 micrograms per cubic metre in the Welsh steelworking town of Port Talbot – almost double the 10 microgram limit. With a population of over 2.5 million, Manchester’s air was 3 micrograms over, while Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield all registered 12 micrograms.
The list also revealed some big improvements, with London’s air pollution level falling from 17 micrograms in 2013 to 11 in 2015, while Sheffield saw a similar drop from 17 to 12. According to the WHO, fine air particle pollution is particularly dangerous because it can penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory infections. Major cities in Europe also broke the 10 microgram limit, with Rome matching Port Talbot, while Berlin sits at 17, Paris at 14 and Warsaw at 22 micrograms. Some of the cleanest towns and cities in the UK include Glasgow, Reading and Edinburgh, with readings of 8, 7 and 6 micrograms respectively.
