Another 27 sites recorded high pollution, while Hillingdon’s fine-particle reading reached 129 micrograms per cubic meter. London’s mayor issued a high-pollution alert for 10 November.
Government monitoring recorded very high particulate pollution at 11 sites, mainly in London and Greater Manchester, in the 24 hours to 10:00 UK time (14:00 Yerevan time) on 9 November. Another 27 sites recorded high levels across London, the northwest, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the east of England.
The worst reading was in Hillingdon, west London, where the 24-hour average concentration of fine particles known as PM2.5 peaked at 129 micrograms per cubic meter, more than eight times the World Health Organization’s daily guideline. Manchester Piccadilly, Wigan, Blackburn, Preston and Rochdale were among the northwest locations in the very high band.
Pollution rose sharply across London from 6–8 November and remained elevated into the following morning, a spokesperson for London’s mayor said. The mayor issued a forecast-based high air-pollution alert for 10 November on the advice of forecasters at Imperial College London.
Particulate matter consists of tiny solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air. PM2.5 refers to fine particles. Exposure to particulate matter is linked to heart and lung disease and cancer.
For PM2.5, the government’s index classes 54–70 micrograms per cubic meter as high, at index levels 7–9, and 71 or more as very high, at level 10. Current-day readings use the latest 24-hour running average; historical data use the daily mean.
Jane Burston, CEO of the Clean Air Fund, told The Guardian that monitoring networks could not identify where the pollution came from, but that autumn celebrations were a highly likely contributor. She said fog and a lack of wind had kept pollution from fireworks and bonfires in place.
Larissa Lockwood, campaigns director at Global Action Plan, said log burners, bonfires and fireworks add to pollution from transport and industry at this time of year, while fog prevents it from dispersing. She said domestic burning and transport are the biggest sources of particulate pollution.
Burston warned that the pollution could trigger asthma attacks, coughing and wheezing in people with asthma or lung conditions, and said it was dangerous for everyone.
For both high and very high pollution, official guidance advises everyone to reduce exposure, especially if they have symptoms, and to speak to a doctor or nurse about new or worsening symptoms or those that do not improve after a week. Older people and adults and children with heart or lung conditions should adapt physically demanding outdoor activities, especially if symptoms worsen, and follow an agreed management plan or ask a doctor or nurse for one.
Burston called for better forecasts, more accessible health alerts and stronger action on wood-burning and transport emissions. Lockwood proposed a public health campaign, alerts asking urban residents not to use wood burners when pollution is high, and a phaseout of nonessential burning in towns and cities.
Defra said still weather was causing high pollution in parts of the country and encouraged people, particularly those vulnerable to air pollution, to check local pollution information and follow health advice. It said it was monitoring the episode and expected levels to fall later in the week as winds pick up.
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