UK accused of using dust suppressants

The European Union is requesting more information from the UK on its particulate matter PM10 data for 2011 after it was hinted that dust suppressant ‘glue’ was used near some monitoring sites.

If this substance was used, then it would have resulted in lower readings for the UK.

Figures submitted to the EU for 2011 indicated that the UK was within air pollution limits for PM10, however campaign groups such as Clean Air London suggested that dust suppressants had been used near monitoring stations in some high pollution areas.

This resulted in lower readings for the pollutant, according to the groups.

Despite these allegations, Defra denies using dust suppressants, saying “there is no evidence to suggest its use artificially reduces the readings around the monitoring stations.”

Dust suppressants are glue-like substances which are sprayed on roads and walls on particularly congested streets in order to pick up dust pollutants.

In January 2013, a Transport for London (TfL) report looking at a trial of a solution called Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) indicated that particular areas of high pollution could benefit from its application.

European Union annual mean limits for PM10 and nitrogen dioxide are each set at 40 micrograms per cubic metre.

Each year the UK breaches these limits, the country can face fines of £300 million. Spain for example has incurred fines for this in the past.

European Commission environment spokesman Joe Hennon, commented: “2011 figures for PM10 provided by the UK were below EU limits – we are basically just asking the UK for information on these figures, as there has obviously been some speculation on them.”

When he was asked if the UK could face infringement fines over the issue, he commented that any such action would be a “long way away”.