- "Researchers... found a normal day's exposure [to
London's air] can be the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes. Pollution
hotspots include Marylebone Road, where daily vehicle emissions are so
concentrated that pedestrians and those with offices or homes on the roadside
are exposed to the NOx equivalent of more than 30 cigarettes."
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- Alarming levels of pollution on London's streets have
been highlighted in a major study.
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- Scientific tests have revealed how much of the airborne
irritant oxides of nitrogen (NOx) is created by traffic.
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- The toxin, which can cause breathing disorders, asthma
and strokes, is also found in cigarette smoke. Experts are alarmed that
NOx often soars way beyond safe limits during peak periods - often on smoggy,
hot days.
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- In Marylebone Road on 28 July, one of the hottest days
of the year, NOx levels rose to 1,912 microgrammes per cubic metre, the
equivalent of motorists and pedestrians breathing in four cigarettes a
minute.
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- Researchers from King's College, University Of London,
found a normal day's exposure can be the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes.
Pollution hotspots include Marylebone Road, where daily vehicle emissions
are so concentrated that pedestrians and those with offices or homes on
the roadside are exposed to the NOx equivalent of more than 30 cigarettes.
Other affected areas include King's Road (29 cigarettes a day), and Hammersmith
Broadway (27.3 cigarettes).
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- Scientist Eric Johnson, who worked on the study, said:
"These figures give a clear indication of pollution in London. Those
living or working next to one of the hotspots are constantly exposed to
high levels but, even if you come in and out of the capital, the pollution
adds up. We should be very concerned by this."
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- Andrew Ford, of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association
which analysed the King's College data, said: "This pollutant is strongly
linked to breathing problems and 40,000 premature UK deaths a year are
attributed to poor air."
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- The index shows that at 57 out of 85 London sites, annual
average levels are above the Government's recommended limit of 40.11 microgrammes
of NOx, the equivalent of smoking 12 "light" cigarettes in 24
hours.
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- ©2003 Associated New Media
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- http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/7602615?source=Evening%20Sta
ndard
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