South East London pollution far exceeds WHO limit

Pollution levels in South East London reached six times the World Health Organisation (WHO) limit on several occasions during the last year, new research from Goldsmiths, University of London suggests.

Goldsmiths’ ‘Citizen Sense’ research group equipped local residents with their new ‘Dustbox’ device designed to measure the volume of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in the atmosphere in seven areas of South East London.

PM2.5 refers to tiny particles in the air that are able to travel deep into the respiratory tract and can affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

The WHO daily mean concentration guideline of 25 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air (µg/m³) was regularly exceeded across Deptford, New Cross and Lewisham, with daily mean concentrations above 150 µg/m³ being registered on multiple occasions between January and April this year.

The research has highlighted a number of likely causes of increasing pollution, with particularly high instances of PM2.5 detected at major traffic intersections, around construction sites for new housing developments, and at locations where drivers often leave engines idling.

Data from the Pepys area of Deptford also indicated that the primarily diesel-fueled traffic on the River Thames could be causing elevated levels of PM2.5.