Most-polluted streets see improvements in Scotland

New figures indicate that air pollution on Scotland's most-polluted streets has dropped massively since the coronavirus-enforced lockdown began.

Although campaigners have warned against viewing short-term improvements as a ‘silver lining’ in the pandemic, the new data from Air Quality Scotland found an average drop of 46 per cent in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on Scotland's most-polluted streets, with some falling by as much as 63 per cent. NO2, released from car exhausts, is a serious air pollutant and indirectly contributes to global warming.

Last year, five streets in Scotland breached the legal limit of an average 40 micrograms of NO2 per cubic metre (ug/m3). All five streets have seen reductions since lockdown came into force on 23 March, compared with the same period last year.

Levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) have also seen a dramatic reduction.

Friends of the Earth Scotland said any short-term improvements which come at an ‘enormous human and economic cost’ would not bring many health benefits. The charity has called for a change to the transport system and ways of working to reduce pollution after lockdown, which could also alleviate some of the underlying conditions which make people more vulnerable to diseases such as coronavirus.