Friends of the Earth have named a Cupar street as the fourth dirtiest in Scotland for air pollution.
The environment organisation named and shamed Bonnygate in the Fife town for PM10 particle concentrations.
These are particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less.
They are associated with health problems including asthma.
Perth’s Atholl Street climbed to the unwanted top slot.
According to figures published by Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Fair City’s pollution blackspot recorded an annual average of 15.89 micrograms (µg) of PM10 per cubic metre.
However, this did not exceed the national target of 18 micrograms.
In fact, last year was the first time Scotland as a whole had met its air quality targets.
Data ‘not ratified’ says Fife Council
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s data suggests the average PM10 count for Bonnygate in 2022 was 14.27 µg per cubic metre.
Kenny Bisset is lead officer for land and air quality at Fife Council.
He said scientists had yet to ratify the air pollution data for Cupar.
Ratified air pollution figures, including for Cupar, are expected in April.
However he gave an assurance that PM10 at Bonnygate was on a “downward trajectory”.
“We have shown that both nitrogen dioxide and PM10 started coming down as a result of the introduction of traffic management measures.”
Fife Council launched Air Quality Management Areas in Bonnygate and Appin Crescent, Dunfermline, in response to elevated pollution levels.
Kenny says the council first took action at Bonnygate to tackle air pollution in 2009.
A “street canyon” was trapping pollutants.
To tackle this council transportation chiefs altered traffic light sequences to “relocate the queue of the street canyon”.
Measures to drive down air pollution to continue
Kenny says the council is taking further measures in its Air Quality Strategy including electrifying its fleet and encouraging other operators to do the same.
Meanwhile, because levels of PM10 have been within acceptable limits, the council could revoke Air Quality Management Areas in Cupar and Dunfermline.
However, this will depend on an as yet incomplete Scottish Government study.
“The latest data is still being checked. We expect this to be available soon.”
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