Four streets in Dundee are among the worst 15 areas in Scotland for air pollution, a new survey has revealed.
The new analysis by Friends of the Earth Scotland shows that Dundee’s Meadowside, Seagate, Lochee Road and Whitehall Street are well above air pollution targets for nitrogen dioxide which should have been met eight years ago.
The survey shows that standards are still being missed across the country, with Perth’s Atholl Street also labelled among the worst in the country.
Friends of the Earth Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said: “Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to people’s health, with fumes from cars, lorries and buses, killing off at least 10 times the number who die in road crashes every year.
“Some of these targets were set in the late 90s and supposed to be met in 2005, yet we still have air pollution at dangerous levels on streets across Scotland.
“Both the Scottish Government and our local authorities have failed to take this issue seriously for years and between them they need to do more than make promises they don’t deliver.”
Dundee’s Lochee Road is measured at 55.4 mics, Meadowside 54.5, Seagate 50.4 and Whitehall Street 43.
The Glasgow Kerbside is the worst in Scotland with 72.5 mics, followed by South Lanarkshire Raith Interchange 62.9. Perth’s Atholl Street was measured at 55.1 mics.
These are the annual mean levels at these sites in 2012 according to the data, which can be seen at scottishairquality.co.uk.
The EU and UK standard is set at 40 micrograms per cubic metre, so all these sites fail the standard.
Dr Dixon added: “We were supposed to meet this standard in 2005. In Glasgow at least we are unlikely to meet it even in 2020.”
Perth’s Atholl Street (24.9 mics) also featured in the top 10 sites failing particulate matter standards in 2012.
Dr Dixon says: “The Scottish air quality objective is 18 micrograms per cubic metre, so all these sites fail the objective.”
Dundee City Council administration leader Ken Guild said: “We most certainly do take air pollution very seriously and we are monitoring the situation very closely, so it is not correct to say we have failed to take it seriously for years. However, I have not seen this report and until I do I can’t give a more detailed response to it.”