Air quality in Norwich is as damaging to health as smoking 157 cigarettes a year, according to a new study.
The research puts the Fine City as the seventh-worst in the UK, higher than larger metropolitan areas like Leeds, Birmingham and London.
Air quality experts House Fresh used Air Quality Life Index data to calculate the average median amount of particle pollution concentration and converted it to the equivalent number of cigarettes passively smoked per year by using a formula from US-based environmental data scientists Berkely Earth.
Jamie Osborn, Green Party councillor for Norwich's Mancroft ward, said: "It is scandalous that local authorities and the government have failed to take meaningful action to tackle air pollution. No one should have to breathe toxic air that could kill them.
"Local councils have to urgently clean up Norwich's air by accelerating the rollout of electric buses, getting cars off the road through better walking, cycling and public transport options, and discouraging the use of woodburning stoves."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes air pollution as "one of the greatest environmental risk to health" and according to the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), deaths caused by air pollution in the UK is estimated to be between 28,000 and 36,000 every year.
Norwich is an Air Quality Management Area and an action plan is in place to curb its impact.
A number of steps are being taken to reduce pollution in the city, according to Norfolk County Council, including the introduction of e-cargo bikes, 70 electric buses by March 2024 and the introduction of electric vehicle charging points.
Councillor Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “We’re committed to improving air quality in Norwich and have recently secured funding for a number of projects which will support this.
"We’re supporting the government’s ambition for a net zero country by 2050 and we will achieve this by working together with partners to lead and inspire our colleagues, citizens, communities and businesses to take action and play their part in protecting Norfolk for future generations.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here