Pollution drops in Inverness's most toxic street amid Covid-19 crisis
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POLLUTION levels have plummeted on an Inverness road branded one of the most toxic in Scotland.
A Friends of the Earth study in January revealed that Academy Street was the fourth worst in the country for noxious nitrogen dioxide emissions from vehicles.
But the Covid-19 lockdown has brought a dramatic reduction in road traffic reflected in a 60 per cent reduction in pollution between March 17 and April 30 this year.
Commenting on data from Air Quality Scotland, regional Greens MSP John Finnie felt action must be taken to prevent a return to past levels of toxic fumes.
Mr Finnie said: “The unprecedented response to the coronavirus emergency has dramatically reduced the air pollution on Scotland’s most polluted streets, including by a staggering 60 per cent on Academy Street.
“We know that poor air quality is responsible for thousands of deaths each year so it’s vital that we don’t allow pollution levels to return to normal as lockdown is eased in the weeks or months to come.
“It’s vital that Highland Council recognise the importance of protecting the health and wellbeing benefits that come with good air quality in Inverness city centre.”
