I am writing to you to express
my extreme concern about air quality in the region of East Anglia
where I live. Most people imagine that the air quality in rural and
coastal areas is good and yet having looked into local air quality
on the DEFRA-sponsored Air Quality website, I see that East Anglia
suffers the worst ground-level ozone pollution in the UK, with Wicken
Fen, Sibton, Weybourne and Southend all exceeding government targets
for ozone pollution many times during the summer months. Indeed, Wicken
Fen and Weybourne monitoring stations exceeded government targets
no less that 96 and 78 times respectively in 2006 - by far the worst
in the country!
Moreover, unlike most other
pollutants, the incidence of ground level ozone pollution is actually
getting worse each year and I gather is likely to continue to do so
in view of global warming. Indeed, I understand that the Royal Society
is so concerned that they have now initiated a major study into the
impact of ground-level ozone in the 21st century. In their words:
Ground-level ozone is a serious pollutant that affects human health,
reduces crop yields and damages natural ecosystems. In Europe it is
considered to be one of the most important air pollutants for these
reasons. According to the World Health Organization, ozone pollution
irritates people’s breathing, triggers asthma symptoms, causes
lung and heart diseases and, in some extreme cases provokes premature
death.
And yet, to my astonishment,
I find that ground-level ozone is specifically excluded from Local
Air Quality Management because of the difficulties in achieving any
improvement due to its transboundary nature. Given that this is such
a problematic pollutant, this is a far from satisfactory situation
for local people - particularly children (who are especially susceptible
to lung damage from ozone pollution), the elderly and the infirm.
Moreover, one in ten of our children nationally (and 5.2 million of
the UK population) suffer from asthma, the symptoms of which are considerably
worsened by high ozone pollution. I am sure you will agree that this
trend and apparent absence of appropriate action is of very grave
concern.
I would therefore like to
know what measures the government are taking both here and internationally
to tackle this highly unacceptable and escalating problem. Moreover,
I urge you and your colleagues to place great emphasis on this issue
as a matter of urgency.
Yours sincerely,