NITROGEN DIOXIDE LEVELS INCREASE 15% IN A YEAR ACROSS LONDON

12.01.00am GMT Mon 22nd Mar 2004

New figures obtained by Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes today show that nitrogen dioxide in London has risen by an average of 15% in the last two years with only one of the nineteen sites recording a decrease in its level.

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats also show that London's levels of nitrogen dioxide concentration are set to exceed the Government's targets. Only four out of nineteen sites tested in 2003 were at or below acceptable levels.

The sites in London with the largest increases in Nitrogen Dioxide levels between 2002 and 2003 were:-

· Marylebone Road with a 32.1% increase

· Eltham in Greenwich with a 26.7% increase

· A3 roadside in Kingston Upon Thames with a 25.9% increase

· London Bridge Place with a 20.9% increase

· Hillingdon with a 20% increase

Marylebone Road near Baker Street ward had an annual nitrogen dioxide concentration of 107 ìg/m³ - over 2½ times the Government's target for 2005 of 40ìg/m³.

Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate Simon Hughes said:

"High nitrogen dioxide levels can cause lung damage and increased respiratory infections in young children. Long-term exposure may lead to increases in asthma and may cause alterations in the lung.

"While the hot summer of last year certainly did not help in reducing levels, it is time that the Mayor, the Boroughs and Ministers worked together to reduce the amount of harmful substances in our air.

"A mayor for Greater London must make sure that improvements in our quality of life happen across the whole of the capital and not just within the Zone 1. Mr Livingstone has given too much attention to reducing levels in the centre and has failed to tackle the pollution in the air outer London breathes."

ENDS

For notes to editors:

The Government's target under the Air Quality Strategy is that by 2005 the amount of nitrogen dioxide should be below 40ìg/m³ for the yearly average. Only four of the nineteen sites met this target

Highest annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentration (micrograms per metrecubed)

Sites London borough Ward 2002 2003 %age increase 2002/2003

London Marylebone Road City of Westminster Baker Street Ward 81 107 32.10

London Eltham Greenwich Eltham Park Ward 30 38 26.67

London A3 Roadside Kingston Upon Thames Tolworth South Ward 58 73 25.86

London Bridge Place, London Westminster City of Westminster Victoria Ward 43 52 20.93

London Hillingdon Hillingdon Yiewsley Ward 45 54 20.00

West London Kensington and Chelsea Abingdon Ward 46 55 19.57

London Bexley Bexley North End Ward 31 37 19.35

London Wandsworth Wandsworth Fairfield Ward 52 62 19.23

London Lewisham Lewisham Rushey Green Ward 50 58 16.00

Southwark Roadside Southwark Consort Ward 58 67 15.52

Haringey Roadside Haringey Bruce Grove Ward 46 53 15.22

London North Kensington Kensington and Chelsea St. Charles Ward 40 45 12.50

London Teddington Richmond upon Thames Teddington Ward 25 28 12.00

London Brent Brent St. Raphael's Ward 29 32 10.34

Tower Hamlets Roadside Tower Hamlets Holy Trinity Ward 61 67 9.84

London Hackney Hackney Eastdown Ward 47 50 6.38

London Cromwell Road 2 Kensington and Chelsea Brompton Ward 72 76 5.56

London Bromley Bromley Bickley Ward 41 42 2.44

Camden Kerbside Camden Adelaide Ward 66 65 -1.52

Approximately 50% of nitrogen dioxide emissions come from cars and 25% from power stations. In addition to causing acid rain and producing low-level ozone, they irritate the respiratory tract, impair lung function and have been linked to lung cancer. They particularly affect people with asthma.