​Warning as Scotland's pollution levels breach safety standards

Safe air pollution levels are expected to be broken in nearly every local authority area in Scotland tomorrow.

According to Scotland’s air quality website, levels of air pollution forecast for tomorrow Friday 10 April will be broken in every council area except Midlothian.

Last month a similar warning was issued alongside a warning that adults and children with lung and heart problems should consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors.

The situation usually arises when mild, warm weather, and a lack of wind, fails to dissipate pollution particles emanating from carbon emissions – most usually traffic.

The government should commit to reducing traffic levels and improving vehicle emissions standards

This combines with pollution moving across mainland Europe.

Emilia Hanna, air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said incidences of this kind were becoming more frequent.

"This is the second air pollution episode we’ve had in Scotland in a month,” she said.

“Air pollution from fine particles kills more than 2,000 people in Scotland every year, and can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes.

"This air pollution from Europe is adding to the problems already created by traffic in our towns and cities.

"While the Scottish Government might not be able to do much about emissions blowing in from elsewhere, it must do far more to tackle the pollution caused by traffic on our streets, she added.

“The government should commit to reducing traffic levels and improving vehicle emissions standards. We need low emission zones rolled out in our cities, better walking and cycling provision and more efficient public transport.”