Virus lockdown brings clean air bonus to Fylde coast

With so many people working from home or self-isolating, coronavirus , ironically, could be bringing a temporary health benefit to most people.
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Scientists have noticed a drop in the amount of air pollution in our towns and cities as the number of cars on the road has dramatically fallen.

Bus companies across Lancashire have reduced the number of services as have train firms operating in our area.

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The amount of traffic on the M55 and M6 has plummetted as has the number of vehicles going into town centres.

Affinity Outlet, formerly Freeport Fleetwood, looking deserted due to the coronavirus lockdownAffinity Outlet, formerly Freeport Fleetwood, looking deserted due to the coronavirus lockdown
Affinity Outlet, formerly Freeport Fleetwood, looking deserted due to the coronavirus lockdown

UK air navigation service NATS said that the number of commercial flights has dropped by 77 per cent, with the fall higher in other European countries such as Spain, Germany and France.

It said for example, on March 25 there were 1,415 flights handled, compared to 6,224 flights on the same date the year before.

From Sunday, Blackpool Transport stared running reduced services and suspended all tram services, while rail operator Northern is running only “key worker” timetables (See https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/key-worker-timetables ) with just a couple of trains a day running.

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As a result the concentration of gases and particulates, the tiny specks of pollution churned out be diesel and petrol engines, and which have been linked to strokes, heart and lung disease has fallen.

The Fleetwood the Knott End ferry has been closed after people failed to maintian correct social distancingThe Fleetwood the Knott End ferry has been closed after people failed to maintian correct social distancing
The Fleetwood the Knott End ferry has been closed after people failed to maintian correct social distancing

In March last year, the Department of Health said air pollution was “the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure”. Some studies put the figure at 40,000 deaths.

Satellite images have revealed dramatic reductions in concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in China and northern Italy, coinciding with lockdowns.

Professor Nick Hewitt, from Lancaster University, said: “Many air quality monitoring stations around the country are showing significant improvements in air quality since the lockdown began. 20-40per cent decreases in the concentrations of small particles and the oxides of nitrogen, compared with the pre-lockdown period, are typical.

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“This is broadly in line with expectations, as there have been dramatic reductions in traffic volumes but other pollution sources (for example power stations and domestic heating) have remained largely unchanged.

The M55 deserted during the coronavirus pandemicThe M55 deserted during the coronavirus pandemic
The M55 deserted during the coronavirus pandemic

“Although these air quality improvements will reduce the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution it may be that many individuals susceptible to air pollution will also be susceptible to the most severe effects of Covid-19.”

Scientists from the University of York processed data from roadside monitoring sites in York, Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester.

They found a significant reduction in Nitrogen Dioxide for car exhausts and particulates.

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Professor James Lee from York’s Department of Chemistry and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science said: “These are the two air pollutants that have the biggest health impacts on people. From our analysis, pollution levels are clearly lower than the average of the previous five years.

"I would expect them to drop even further over the coming weeks.

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