Air pollution has been considered to be the biggest environmental threat to health in Britain with strong evidence that it is contributing to the development of coronary heart disease, stroke and respiratory diseases.

‘Series of recommendations have been made in the 250-page PHE report, and one of them is that town and city councils should be given powers to implement no-idling zones to stop people leaving their car engines running while waiting outside schools, hospitals and care homes.’

Another proposal would see low-emission or clean air zones to discourage the most highly polluting vehicles from entering populated areas, Xinhua news agency reported. 




The report said that air pollution was the biggest environmental threat to health in Britain with strong evidence that air pollution causes the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, lung cancer and exacerbates asthma.
"The evidence is clear on the scale of harm from air pollution. It is the largest environmental risk to the public's health in the UK," warned the report.
"People are exposed to outdoor air pollution in the places where they live, work and spend their leisure time. Whilst there are opportunities for individuals to reduce their personal exposure, or that of their children, these are limited," it said.
The document said that public spaces should be redesigned so people aren't so close to highly polluting roads by making streets wider or using green hedges to screen against pollutants. There should also be more investment in clean public transport, footpaths and cycle paths.
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Cosford said a key challenge was the commonly held view that actions to reduce air pollution run counter to economic growth and development.
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Source-IANS