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"UK air pollution from diesel car fuel is 'killing 40,000 a year in the UK' "

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    New report all over the news today, bit surprising that DM has focused on cars/diesel (though obviously it blames 'the government') -

    "

    Toxins emitted by Britain’s booming number of diesel cars are fuelling a health crisis that kills 40,000 people a year, a landmark report warns today.

    Ownership of diesel cars has more than trebled in the past 15 years – driven by misguided government tax incentives that identified diesel as a ‘green’ fuel.

    Today’s report by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health warns that the health impact of Britain’s air pollution is greater than previously thought. It calculates that 40,000 people in Britain die early each year because of outdoor air pollution, a significant increase on the previous estimate of 29,000.

    "

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3459430/Lethal-legacy-dash-diesel-Air-pollution-killing-40-000-year-UK.html

    Shame the UK Gov is preoccupied with a referendum and the SG busy with roadbuilding.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. amir
    Member

    Commuters on the way into Edinburgh this morning: "I can't hear you"

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. Stephan Matthiesen
    Member

    "Shame the UK Gov is preoccupied with a referendum"

    No, that's the solution. Pollution above EU thresholds? Leave the EU and then no thresholds are exceeded any more.

    Actually UK doesn't even have to leave, just negotiate a "deal" to "cut red tape" or exempt the UK from closer integration in future.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. earthowned
    Member

    "No, that's the solution. Pollution above EU thresholds? Leave the EU and then no thresholds are exceeded any more."

    That's a very prescient observation. The EU seems to be the only body capable of holding the UK government back from its nihilistic race to the bottom.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15239335.UK_faces_Euro_sanctions_after_further_delays_in_plans_to_tackle_Scots_pollution_crisis/

    Posted 6 years ago #

  6. gibbo
    Member

    If the UK population is 65.14m and life expectancy is 81, then 804,000 people will die each year. (Assuming an even weighting of ages.)

    So 40000 deaths due to diesel would suggest the average person has a 5% chance of being killed due to diesel pollution.

    Or am I missing something?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  7. neddie
    Member

    The UK government is set to publish a draft air pollution plan...

    Speed bumps could be removed in some cities to cut pollution from cars slowing down and speeding up.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39804503

    What?

    Why can't people get that when you drive at or below the speed limit over speed bumps, you can drive at a constant speed? There is no need for slowing down and speeding up.

    It's the classic way to spot speeding motorists. Watch for the brake lights as they approach the speed bump.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  8. jonty
    Member

    Not to suggest that cars should be able to travel no less than the speed limit, nor to suggest that speed bumps aren't a good idea, but there are plenty of speed bumps that are vicious at the posted limit.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  9. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    The thing with air pollution is that it is constantly measured by machines.

    If any measure does or doesn't work we'll know empirically. I'm not an idiot of course, I know speed bumps will never be put back in once they're taken out.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  10. Morningsider
    Member

    All the documents can be found here:

    https://consult.defra.gov.uk/airquality/air-quality-plan-for-tackling-nitrogen-dioxide/

    Electric cars to the rescue!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  11. steveo
    Member

    but there are plenty of speed bumps that are vicious at the posted limit.

    See Hutchison road, absolutely brutal on any machine capable of reaching, never mind exceeding, the posted limit.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    BBC TV news says as well as removing speedbumps, council should 'do everything they can to avoid introducing congestion charging'.

    Interview with Nottingham councillor (a city that has done more than most over many years to reduce traffic) saying 'LAs don't have resources to deal adequately with air pollution, and it should be Gov responsibility'.

    Posted 6 years ago #

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