Air pollution in the United Kingdom

Mining has existed in Great Britain since prehistoric times and lead mines may have been worked as early as Roman Britain. The Pipe Rolls refer to lead and silver smelting in the Middle Ages.[6][7][8][9] Research on a Swiss ice-core indicates that atmospheric pollution containing lead between the years 1170 and 1216 was as high as that during the Industrial Revolution, correlating accurately with smelting in the Peak District, the primary European source of lead and silver at the time, with spikes in pollution associated closely with the increasing power of successive monarchs during their reigns.[10][11][12] In 1306, Edward I introduced the first prohibitive environmental law, against the usage of 'sea coal' from Northumbria. Sulphur-rich coal from this exposed seam was increasingly being used because of dwindling supplies of wood in and around cities, but it produced stifling smoke and fumes. The legislation made little difference to the population even up to Elisabeth I's time. By the 1600s, smoke pollution was also having an effect on building exteriors. In a landmark legal case from 1610, judgement was awarded to William Aldred against his neighbour, with references to the smell of pig sties and fumes from lime kilns, "stopping of the wholesome air" and "infecting and corrupting the air." [13][14][15] Through the 1800s, coal-burning for the Industrial Revolution in particular made the UK the world's leading source of carbon-based air pollution by a great margin [surpassed by the United States in 1888 and Germany in 1913].[16][17] Local campaigning societies sprang up to complain about the health risks, such as the Committee for the Consumption of Smoke in Leeds.[15] The Alkali Act of 1863 was passed - and intermittently amended - to regulate irritant gaseous hydrochloric acid produced in the Leblanc process to make sodium carbonate, but also the sulphuric acid often caused by emissions from the same factories.[18] The Public Health Act was passed in 1875, which legislated not just for the health effects of air pollution but also the visual effects. Experiments by the London County Council and the Meteorological Council from 1902–1903 found that 20% of London fogs were due to smoke alone, all were made denser and longer-lasting by smoke and that the death rate "enormously expands" during the fogs.[19] By the 20th century - at least - respiratory diseases were the UK's biggest killers [the death-rate from bronchitis in the UK remained the highest in the world in the early 1950s, 65 per 100,000 in England and Wales, more than twice than of the nearest other country, Belgium].[20][15]

The Great Smog of 1952 in London.

Early in December 1952, a cold fog descended upon London. Because of the cold, Londoners began to burn more coal than usual. The resulting air pollution was trapped by the inversion layer formed by the dense mass of cold air. Concentrations of pollutants, coal smoke in particular, built up dramatically. The problem was made worse by use of low-quality, high-sulphur coal for home heating in London in order to permit export of higher-quality coal, because of the country's tenuous postwar economic situation. The "fog", or smog, was so thick that driving became difficult or impossible.[21] The extreme reduction in visibility was accompanied by an increase in criminal activity as well as transportation delays and a virtual shut down of the city. During the 4 day period of fog, at least 4,000 people died as a direct result of the weather.[22]

More areas of England warned of 'very high' air pollution in April 2014. High levels of pollution in London and other parts of the south east of England may at worst days cause sore eyes and sore throats and experts warned those with heart conditions and asthma to stay inside.[23][24]

On 29 April 2015, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the government must take immediate action to cut air pollution,[25] following a case brought by environmental lawyers at ClientEarth.[26]

London mayor Sadiq Khan launched the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in April 2019 which involves a charge on older diesel and petrol cars with £12.50 per day. Busses pay £100 per day. This follows the London low emission zone plan operating since 2008.[43][44] The ULEZ was expected to cause a 20% reduction in road traffic emissions and resulted in a drop of the worst polluting vehicles entering the zone each day from 35,578 in March to 26,195 in April after the charge was introduced.[46][47] A poll in April 2019 by YouGov found that 72% of Londoners supported using emissions charging to tackle both air pollution and congestion.[43]

The zone will be extended to the North and South Circular from 2021 so that it would cover an area containing 3.8 million people.[48][49] Once the zone is expanded, an estimated 100,000 cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries will pay the charge daily.[50]

If a local authority finds an area where the targets are not likely to be met, it must declare it an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)[51] and produce a Local Air Quality Action Plan[52] to improve the air quality. DEFRA has published a list of local authorities with AQMAs.[53] The action plan may include measures for idle reduction of vehicle engines. An example is the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley.[54]

On 26 July 2017, the British government announced plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in Britain by 2040.[55] This follows a similar announcement by the French government on 6 July 2017.[56]

On 25 July 2017, BMW announced that it would start production of an all-electric version of the Mini at its plant in Cowley, Oxfordshire, in 2019.[57] Volvo had earlier announced that all its new cars from 2019 would be electric or hybrid.[58]