26 locations in Scotland exceed air pollution limits

A new report has found that 26 locations in Scotland exceeded air pollution limits last year.

Indeed, it is thought that a number of urban sites across Scotland, including Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Paisley, Perth and Falkirk are home to some of the most polluted streets in the country.

Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES) has used this information to persuade motorists to think twice about the number of journeys that they make and the way that they drive.

It has been presumed that high levels of nitrogen dioxide are caused from the vehicles that travel in these areas.

High levels of nitrogen dioxide is linked with a number of respiratory problems, including asthma and heart attacks.

The study found that around 3000 people die every year in Scotland owing to air pollution caused from cars.

When compared to the 190 deaths from road accidents in the country, it is clear that there is a serious problem.

Dr Richard Dixon, director of FoES, said air pollution was the biggest environmental threat to health. "Fumes from cars, lorries and buses kill at least 10 times the number who die in road crashes every year," he said.

"Some of these targets were set in the late 1990s and were supposed to be met in 2005, yet we still have air pollution at dangerous levels on streets across Scotland.

"Both the Scottish government and our local authorities have failed to take this issue seriously and, between them, they need to do more than make promises they don't deliver."

According to him, the Scottish government needs to take action by putting traffic limits on certain roads.

In addition, it is thought that the news is detrimental to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"Glasgow has a particular problem, with heavy traffic and tall buildings combining to create a polluted city centre, and the government predicts these problems will not be fixed until after 2020," Mr Dixon said.

"This is bad news for the athletes and visitors who will come to Glasgow for next year's Commonwealth Games."