Air Pollution Shocker!

Air pollution in Davyhulme and surrounding areas is at dangerous levels, according to monitoring results carried out by the Breathe Clean Air Group.

The campaign group has been monitoring nitrogen dioxide levels in a number of locations over the past ten months. “The results for September/October are frightening.” said Pete Kilvert, Chairman of the group. “They show that nitrogen dioxide pollution, mainly from road traffic exhaust, has jumped significantly during this autumn period and we are worried about the effects it will have on the health of our children.”

Nitrogen dioxide is an irritant and toxic gas which is released into the air during the combustion process. The main source is vehicle exhausts, especially along the motorway corridor and busy roads, but industrial processes and incineration also produces this gas. Trafford Council designated the M60 corridor and the main roads in Trafford an Air Quality Management Area, where nitrogen dioxide is limited to 40 micrograms per cubic metre. However, the Breathe Clean Air Group’s figures show that this limit has been regularly exceeded.

Locations near the motorway show: Lostock Road (57), Barton Road (61), Railway Road (46), Stretford Road (43), Winchester Road (37) and Bradfield Road (38). In the centre of Urmston (58), Carrington (23) and Partington (34). There are three figures here that are around 50% ABOVE the limit.

“These figures are bad enough now,” said Mr Kilvert, “but can you imagine what they will be like when additional, polluting processes will be built around here and pollute us for decades? The Davyhulme biomass incinerator will produce nitrogen dioxide as well as arsenic, dioxins and other nasties. Three power stations in Carrington, Port Salford across the Canal, the burning of methane at Davyhulme Sewerage works, air pollution from the proposed fracking venture near Barton high level bridge as well as all the extra vehicle traffic they will encourage. It’s time for Trafford Council planners to say enough is enough. No more dirty, harmful processes in Trafford.”

The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 say that the limit for nitrogen dioxide must not be exceeded more than 18 times per year and that the Public Alert Threshold will need to be actioned.