Air pollution in Inverness increases from historic low of first coronavirus lockdown, reveals environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth Scotland
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A city centre street in Inverness is among Scotland's worst offenders for levels of diesel pollution, new data has revealed.
Academy Street was ranked ninth by Friends of the Earth Scotland after analysing official air pollution data for 2021.
The study revealed pollution levels increased from a historic low of the traffic-free lockdown in 2020.
Campaigners, including a city GP, say it shows a clear link between car journeys and pollution levels.
They are calling on Highland Council to make it easier to travel sustainably in and around the Highland capital which they say lags behind other cities in accessing active travel investment and has no plans for a Low Emission Zone.
The analysis looked at two toxic pollutants primarily produced by transport.
Academy Street, the most polluted street in Inverness, had an average of 28.19 µg/m3 of nitrogen dioxide - diesel pollution - across 2020. The average for 2021 was 29.6 µg/m3.
City lacks Low Emission Zone to restrict most polluting vehicles
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s transport campaigner, Gavin Thomson, said it was unacceptable that Inverness air pollution problem worsened in 2021.
"2020 was an outlier for obvious reasons and we witnessed unprecedented changes to all areas of public life," he said.
"But for traffic emissions, it was back to business as usual in 2021.
"From the evidence we have, every street in Inverness experienced higher levels of pollution in 2021 than the previous year.
"We need to remember that pollution damages our health through long-term exposure, such as living near a main road throughout your childhood.
"So, the reduced pollution for a couple of months during the strictest lockdown is unlikely to have many long-term health benefits."
He said unlike other cities in Scotland, Inverness was not getting a Low Emission Zone to restrict the most polluting vehicles from the city centre.
"Highland Council has finally, at long last, started to recognise that cycling infrastructure is needed in Inverness, but we are still in very early days and Inverness is behind other cities," Mr Thomson said.
"We need to improve Inverness’s buses, with a comprehensive, publicly-owned affordable bus network. This would take cars off the road, reducing pollution and climate emissions.
"The temporary improvements in air quality in 2020 arrived at an enormous cost to our communities and societies. "There was no intention or concerted political action to reduce emissions, which is why the falls were not maintained when restrictions eased.
"We need a just and green recovery, including investment in our public transport and more options for safe walking and cycling, to permanently improve the air we breathe."
Number of air pollution deaths 10 times more than car crashes
Inverness GP Andrew Dallas, voiced his concerns.
"As a local doctor I am really concerned about air pollution, especially knowing how significant the problem is on Academy Street," said Dr Dallas, of Cairn Medical Practice.
"The number of deaths caused by air pollution every month is equal to obesity and 10 times more than car crashes.
"Yet, how much do we observe laws that prohibit idling engines in comparison to traffic laws, for example?
"If we can switch to more active and public transport, we will improve our health directly, with better air quality and increased activity, and indirectly through climate change mitigation. It is a win win!"
The European Ambient Air Quality Directive set a limit for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. The deadline for this limit to have been met was 2010.
The NO2 annual mean in Telford Street, Inverness, last year was 13.41µg/m3.
A survey of fine particles (PM10) revealed an annual mean of 9.044 µg/m3 in the same street. The Scottish annual statutory standard is 18 micrograms per cubic metre.
Friends of the Earth: Inverness has illegal air pollution
