Poor air quality in Sheffield 'results in 500 deaths every year'

The deaths of 500 people each year in Sheffield have been blamed on the poor air quality of the region.

Director of public health at NHS Sheffield Dr Jeremy Wright has said that more than 500 people die prematurely every year because of the air pollution in the city, according to the Yorkshire Post.

In a report which will be given to the NHS trust today (October 5th 2010), he said that the volume of pollution is above both UK and European accepted levels.

Dr Wright stated: "Sheffield University research found six per cent of coronary heart disease deaths and 11 per cent of stroke deaths in the city were attributable to outdoor air pollution."

He added that Sheffield is missing three of the UK's nine air pollution reduction targets, with high levels of ozone, particulate and nitrogen oxide.

Sheffield City Council has been declared an Air Quality Management Area as a result of its nitrogen dioxide volumes.

In order to improve its air quality, the local authority has implemented six monitoring stations across the city to measure fumes and greenhouse gases, as well as checking nitrogen dioxide levels at 90 different spots.

Posted by Claire Manning