Signal UK urban NO2 and particulates down since the 1990s but ozone rising

Summary

The report states that urban air pollution in the UK, particularly levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, has fallen since the 1990s. Legal limits are nonetheless still breached at times, and ozone concentrations have gone up in recent years. The report holds that population growth, rising incomes and new consumption patterns increase demand for resources, energy and transport, producing nitrogen oxides and particulates. In 2020 Public Health England identified air pollution as the UK's largest environmental threat to public health. The Clean Air Strategy 2019 sets out plans to cut emissions from transport, agriculture and industry. Over the longer term, the report expects air pollution could increase non-communicable disease and weigh heavily on older people.