Air Pollution Measurements in London
Map of current air pollution in London
It is often assumed that air pollution in London is a recent phenomenon; in fact legislation attempting to control air pollution was enacted as early as 1306. Coal smoke and the associated problems remained of concern up until the late 20th century with the famous smogs of the 1950's and 60's.
In recent years however the pollution that make up the London's air have altered considerably, primarily because of the increased use of the motor vehicle and the decline in the use of coal for industrial processes and domestic heating. In the case of PM10 and SO2 there have been large reductions in concentration over the past 40 years. Whilst PM10 has remained a problem, other pollutants such as NO2 and O3 are now increasingly a cause for concern.
Measurements shows that, in the recent past, London has exceeded all of the objectives set by the UK Government, with the exception of 1-3 butadiene. Whilst this is cause for concern it is also widely accepted that pollutant emissions peaked during the early 90's and are currently on a downward trend. However, several areas such as central London, Heathrow and in the vicinity of major roads remain a concern.