Clean Air? Be Aware campaign launched to raise awareness about toxic fumes in Manchester’s air
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NQ launches the Clean Air? Be Aware, #CleanAir campaign.
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NQ reporter Tasnim Khan is leading the campaign, aiming to raise awareness of dangerous air pollution levels in Manchester, and ultimately hopes to work towards a goal where the general public are hyper-aware of the environment, and the differences they can make through making lifestyle changes.
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This campaign hopes to educate the public on the dangerous levels of toxic fumes in the environment and ways in which we can make a positive contribution to the environment.
Dangerous air pollution levels in Greater Manchester are costing the regional economy £1bn every year and causing a harmful impact on the health of people living in the city, according to a study by IPPR North. Toxic air is reducing life expectancy in the region six months on average, and over the next century, estimates that “1.6 million life years” will be lost unless action is taken.
The thinktank’s director, Sarah Longlands, said “for too long, the debate on air pollution has been focused on London. But now for the first time, we understand the full extent of the problem in Greater Manchester. We simply cannot allow this to continue.”
The study states Greater Manchester faces a very similar air pollution challenge as that of London – predominantly caused by transport emissions. However, in London mayor Sadiq Khan recently outlined plans for an extended low emissions zone – whereas Manchester doesn’t have the power nor the strategy to tackle this issue.
The IPPR North report found:
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The highest rate of emergency hospital admissions for asthma in England is in Central Manchester, which is more than double the national average. North Manchester coming in second place.
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PM10 particulate pollution, which is linked to conditions such as lung cancer and asthma – for Manchester council ranks being the second worst in England
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Oxford Road in Manchester, which exceeded legal limits 90 times during 2016, is one of the dangerous hotspots for dangerous air quality
It is important that local and regional leaders, including the mayor of Greater Manchester, do everything they can to protect people’s right to breathe clean airtimes during 2018/9.