Behavioural change helps reduce harmful air pollutant in West Suffolk

10 Oct 2024

Levels of a harmful air pollutant linked to vehicle exhaust emissions, have been consistently decreasing across West Suffolk, an annual report has found.

Air pollution impacts people’s health, while the costs to taxpayers meeting the health and social care costs was estimated by Public Health England to be as high as £157 million in 2017 alone.

Nitrogen dioxide, the main pollutant from vehicles, is linked to respiratory diseases.

As part of its legal duties, West Suffolk Council monitors nitrogen dioxide at 80 locations. Levels are required by the Government to be below 40 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per each cubic metre of air.

The council publishes its findings. 

The latest report highlights that nitrogen dioxide levels across all sites in West Suffolk were below national thresholds in 2023, and below pre-pandemic levels as well. They have also fallen on 2022 levels. 

The council remains committed to monitoring and reducing pollution across West Suffolk for the benefit of residents and their health. 

The fall in nitrogen dioxide levels is partly down to changes in car manufacturing including Electric Vehicles (EVs) which do not produce exhaust emissions. 

West Suffolk has improved EV charging infrastructure, accessing national funding alongside its own investment. The council’s public charging points can recharge 70 EVs at a time and powered 421,490 EV miles in 2023 /24. According to Government figures, this increase in charge points has coincided with a 692 per cent rise in EV ownership in West Suffolk between 2018 and 2023.

The council encourages people to walk or cycle where they can, and for companies and organisations to set up a Green Travel Plan to reduce vehicle use including car sharing to save money and reduce emissions.  

West Suffolk Council also works with partners to educate and encourage motorists not to leave their engines running while parked. This includes outside schools where long term exposure to harmful toxic fumes can cause asthma in children, stunt their lung growth, and impact on their health for the rest of their lives.

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “All of these actions are designed to support our residents where they can, to consciously make those changes, however small, to their daily lives that benefit their health and the health of our communities. It is their changes, supported by the council, that are helping reduce levels of this damaging and harmful pollutant. This provides yet another example of why the council’s daily work to deliver our strategic priority for Environmental Resilience, is so important to helping our communities thrive and supporting the sustainable growth of West Suffolk.”

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You can read the Air Quality Annual Status Report on our website

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