SCOTLAND stayed at home
during lockdown – but the drop in traffic did not reduce the “most harmful” type of air pollution, research shows.
Vehicle numbers dropped 65% during the first month of restrictions, but there was “little change” in levels of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), which has been linked to a range of health problems.
Stirling University scientists now believe traffic is not a key contributor to our outdoor air pollution – and that months at home may have put some Scots at “greater risk” from this pollutant due to cooking and smoking without
proper ventilation. That, it is
said, could prove a greater
Covid-19 threat.
Dr Ruaraidh Dobson said: “It has been assumed that fewer cars on the road might have led to a decline in the level of air pollution outdoors and, in turn, reduce the number of cases of ill health linked to this pollution. However, our study – contrary to research from places such as Wuhan in China and Milan – found no evidence of fine particulate air pollution declining in Scotland because of lockdown.
“This suggests that vehicles aren’t an important cause of this very harmful type of air pollution in Scotland – and people may be at greater risk from poor air quality in their own homes, especially where cooking and smoking is taking place in enclosed and poorly ventilated spaces.”
Dobson and colleague Dr Sean Semple analysed data from 70 roadside monitoring stations around Scotland from March 24 – the day after lockdown was introduced in the UK – to April 23 and compared these to figures from previous years.
Nitrogen dioxide, which is associated with vehicle exhaust fumes, was down but concentrations of fine particulate air pollution were just 0.1 microgramme lower than in 2017. They were, however, “substantially lower” than in 2019, when high rates were likely caused by a meteorological event that blew in fine dust from the Sahara.
The results are published in the specialist journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The paper says: “If the severity of Covid-19 is related to air pollution exposure – as has been suggested – increased exposure to PM2.5 could potentially increase the death toll of that disease. Careful and balanced consideration of both outdoor and indoor sources of PM2.5 is essential to tackling the health harm of air pollution effectively and equitably.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here