Brighton’s poor air quality has landed it the dubious accolade of being one of Britain’s pollution hotspots, according to a new Government report.
Brighton, Worthing and Littlehampton together are one of eight areas that have exceeded the acceptable level for pollutants.
The National Audit Office report, prepared for the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, says: “Air pollution is estimated to reduce life expectancy by around seven to eight months, averaged over the whole population of the UK.
“Air pollutants can also have wide-ranging environmental impacts, from localised effects including loss of biodiversity and reduced crop yields, to a potential contribution to climate change.”
It adds: “The Air Quality Strategy estimates that the health impact of air pollution experienced in the UK in 2005 cost between £8.5 billion and £20.2 billion a year.”
Brighton, Littlehampton and Worthing exceeded the daily limits for particulate matter, or “tiny particles in the air, made up from a variety of materials, including sulphate, nitrate, ammonia, sodium chloride, carbon, mineral dust, and water”, smaller than 10 microns in diameter, known as PM10.
The Environmental Audit Committee is made up of 16 members, including the retiring Labour MP, Des Turner, who represents Brighton Kemptown.
