Dear .....

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,