Air pollution in Portsmouth is a public health crisis. Poor air quality has been linked to many serious health conditions including heart disease, breathing problems and Alzheimer’s. Most pollution in Portsmouth is caused by road traffic, particularly in the form of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) released by diesel vehicles. The EU and UK government specified maximum legal NO2 limits that were to be met by 2010. However, some roads in Portsmouth often exceed this limit. Portsmouth City Council is responsible for reducing pollution to safe limits.

There is no safe level of exposure to diesel fumes and we should be targeting a pollution level that is significantly below the legal limit. Apart from NO2 levels, pollution from particulates is also a concern in Portsmouth.

#LetPompeyBreathe is a joint initiative involving Portsmouth Green Party, Portsmouth Friends of The Earth, Milton Neighbourhood Forum, Keep Milton Green, Portsmouth Greenpeace, Greens in the European Parliament and other groups concerned with the dangerous state of Portsmouth’s Air Quality.

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