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Glasgow Home to Scotland’s Most Polluted Street

Posted in: Road Traffic Accidents 

For the second year in a row, Glasgow streets have topped the most polluted in Scotland, with figures showing that the air pollution in the city is getting worse and could lead to a series of illnesses and respiratory issues for the people of Glasgow. 

Glasgow’s Hope Street is the most polluted street in Scotland, remaining one of the UK’s worst roads for air quality. Worryingly, the statistics from the Scottish Government show that despite efforts from councils to get the public to use public transport, the quality of air is getting worse. 

Kills Over 2,000 A Year

Statistics from Dumbarton Road and Byres Road in the city showed that quality was worse than it was the previous year. Estimates show that road pollution kills over 300 Glaswegians a year.

Air pollution can create breathing difficulties for many people and be a factor in spreading illness and disease. Motor vehicles are the main reason for air pollution, which is believed to kill over 2000 people a year across the country and cost the NHS £2 billion annually, vastly surpassing the number killed in road traffic accidents.

Emilia Hanna, an air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland said:

Yet again, Scotland’s streets are shown to have dangerous levels of toxic pollution which are breaking legal limits that were due to be met in 2010.

“Although today’s air pollution is mostly invisible, its impact on our health is crystal clear. Breathing in polluted air increases your chances of having a heart attack, a stroke, or developing cancer.

“Children are also particularly vulnerable, with exposure to air pollution restricting lung development, leading to long-term health problems. It has even been linked with autism in children. It is unjust that children, who are not in any way responsible, are being forced to suffer the most.”

Breach of European Court Law

The damning figures come despite the European Court of Justice finding the UK guilty of breaching a legally binding order to lower the amount of Nitrogen Dioxide, with Glasgow being one of the major cities in Scotland where the limits are not upheld.

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow said:

“The figures show worrying levels of air pollution in Glasgow.

“Hope Street continues to be one of the most polluted areas in the country, and the evidence from Byres Road shows that things are moving in the wrong direction.

“The failure to get a grip on Glasgow’s air pollution problem continues to have a real life impact on public health.”

“Striving to Improve”

Friends of the Earth Scotland have urged the Government to set up low emission zones, encourage the use of public transport, and offer advice to concerned citizens.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said:

“We are striving to improve air quality in the city by working with partners and introducing a number of different measures.

“Although local government has relatively limited powers to change the way society works and travels, Glasgow has taken a number of innovative steps to improve air quality and reduce air pollution in the city.

Contact Us 

If you have suffered from a respiratory illness as a result of poor air quality you may be able to claim compensation. Contact us today on 01418 465 957 for legal advice and representation using our online contact form.


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