Sandwell and Walsall named among worst air pollution hotspots
Two boroughs in the Black Country have been named as among the worst in Britain for air pollution.
Sandwell and Walsall both suffer from high levels of air pollution which are even worse than Birmingham, the figures show.
The 10 most polluted neighbourhoods are all in London. But outside the capital, Sandwell and Leicester are joint fifth, with Walsall in eighth position and Birmingham tied in 10th place with Nottingham. All have levels significantly above World Health Organisation(WHO) guidelines.
The problem is caused by tiny particles of airborne pollution from vehicle exhaust fumes.
Of the many types of air pollution, the invisible-to-the-eye droplets are the only kind that can enter the bloodstream and therefore be taken deep into the body and cause the most damage.
However, there is no obligation for local authorities to tackle the fine particulates air pollution which is being blamed for a wide range of medical conditions, including angina and heart attacks, cancer, asthma, bronchitis, Type 2 diabetes and dementia. Road transport remains the largest single source of nitrogen-dioxide pollution.
The motorway network and cars and lorries belching fumes whilst waiting in traffic queues is being cited as the root of the problem. The WHO upper limit for the particulate is 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air.
In Sandwell the figure is 13.6 and in Walsall 13.2. The level in Birmingham is 13.1. The City of London has the highest level in the UK with a reading of 18.8.
Sandwell director of public health, John Middleton, said: "We have a network of air quality monitoring stations around the borough to measure air quality and we are doing all we can to combat pollution."
Elsewhere in the Black Country, work is taking place to tackle pollution levels in Netherton, Dudley. Birmingham City Council is looking to reduce driving and encourage cycling.
