Could 24 Hours in This Be Worse Than Smoking 15 a Day? Green MSP Launches Bid to Force City to Cut Vehicle Emissions

By BRIAN CURRIE Political Editor

A ROW erupted today over the quality of air people are forced to breathe in Glasgow city centre.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said spending 24 hours in the city was the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes.

But the city council said his claim was unscientific – although it agreed more needed to be done to tackle pollution.

Mr Harvie said Glasgow had the most serious air pollution problems in Scotland.

He said: “The quality of air in Hope Street is so bad that if it was a pub it would be closed when the smoking ban comes into force.

“The smoking ban will give people the right to breathe safe air indoors. Glaswegians are also entitled to air outdoors that is safe and clean and reducing traffic is key to achieving that.”

He said spending 24 hours in the city centre was the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes in terms of inhaling pollutants.

The council said it was unlikely to meet this year’s targets for reducing nitrogen dioxide, a key pollutant, but had already introduced a plan to improve the situation.

Mr Harvie was speaking on a motion he tabled in the Scottish Parliament urging the Executive to ensure the city council’s Air Quality Plan met the minimum standards that were the norm in other European cities.

He said: “Glasgow’s plan is shying away from actions that would make the most difference, meaning Glaswegians will continue to breathe alarming levels of dangerous emissions and public health will continue to suffer.

“Air pollution is now a citywide problem and we need to address the root of the problem – Glasgow’s soaring road traffic levels.

“Having air that is safe to breathe should not be beyond us. That is why I am raising this issue and will be campaigning to clean up Glasgow’s air.”

The Evening Times revealed this year Hope Street was the most polluted road in Scotland and the third in Britain after two in London.

Mr Harvie’s motion identifies the city centre as having the most serious air pollution problems in Scotland – and said a 70-per cent reduction of nitrogen dioxide levels was needed in some areas.

He said there were serious implications for those who lived and worked in the city, such as breathing problems and chronic bronchitis.

He claimed the city’s Air Quality Plan did not propose measures that would reverse increases in road traffic levels or prevent further increases.

And he claimed there were 2000 deaths every year in Scotland linked to vehicle emissions – which now kills more people than passive smoking.

A council spokeswoman said: “It will be difficult for any UK city to reach these targets.

“The council is aware of the air pollution hot spots in the city caused primarily by transport and hopes, along with help from the public, to tackle them.

“However, it is unreasonable to use bad science to suggest breathing the air in Glasgow is comparable to smoking.

“Breathing the air in Glasgow is not in any way as significant a threat to health or as damaging as smoking tobacco.”