New Study Shows Air Quality in Every London Borough Exceeds Recommended Limits

A new study conducted by City Hall has shown that air quality in every London borough exceeds the World Health Organization’s recommended limit for nitrogen dioxide.

The study analysed data from 1,823 sites across London, and found that nitrogen dioxide levels exceed the recommended limit of 10 µg/m3 at all of them.

In addition, fourteen boroughs were found to have five or more locations which breached the more stringent, legal limit of 40 µg/m3.

The borough with the highest percentage of places measured that breached the legal limit was Merton, with 27% of sites exceeding it, followed by Brent (26%) and Croydon (25%).

The data was collected in 2021 using nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes.

The tubes were placed on roadsides and at “background” locations away from roads.

Every borough was included in the data collection except for Bexley and Harrow.

The data shows a similar average concentration of nitrogen dioxide in both inner and outer London, indicating the need to take action across the city.

In response to the data, Mayor Sadiq Khan is planning to expand the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez) to cover the whole of Greater London on August 29.

The zone requires owners of older, more polluting vehicles to pay a daily charge of £12.50 to drive their cars.

Hirra Khan Adeogun, Head of Car Free Cities at the climate charity Possible, stated that the data “shows just how much work there is still left to do on driving down air pollution and emissions in London”.

She believes that dedicated cycle lanes, road user charging, and investing in public transport will help secure the long-term health of Londoners.

The London-wide Ulez expansion will have a “disastrous” impact on people’s finances, according to City Hall Conservatives.

Tony Devenish AM, City Hall Conservatives environment spokesperson, said: “The science is clear: Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion would have a negligible effect on air quality, while having a devastating impact on low income families, businesses and charities.”