Nitrogen Dioxide

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Environmental pollution caused by cars is significantly

air pollution in the UK dropped in the UK have fallen significantly in the past Two Weeks , to prevent since the country went into Lockdown , the spread of the coronavirus.

have seen Some cities, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels drop by up to 60% on the same period Last Year , the analysis shows.

NO2 -, released from car exhaust is a major air pollutant and also indirectly contributes to The Warming of The Planet .

activists said that they hoped it would lead to a permanent change.

Jenny Bates, a Friends of The Earth clean-air activist, said: "you will See this drop in air pollution, shows that less traffic can lead to a cleaner air.

"If this terrible situation is over, we want not to rush, to go Back To where we were, or worse, and we can't on accelerated return to business as usual.

"We can get a better, cleaner future for us and The Planet . "

On the 16. In March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to avoid non-essential travel, to go, to close schools, and people have to stay home

A week later, Mr Johnson announced a country-wide Lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of The Virus .

Daily readings of air quality monitoring stations, the for 17. March compared to the same period of the previous Year , accounting for days of the week.

analysis of The Bbc shared data unit was announced a sharp decline in air pollution since the Lockdown on the 23rd of March compared to the same period Last Year - halving on some of The Most polluted sites, including readings in London, Glasgow, Bristol and Oxford .

in the Caerphilly county, Wales, is known for some of the highest levels of Nitrogen Dioxide outside of Central London .

William Bloss, a professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Birmingham, said: "What we see in the block. the emission reductions from the road transport in our towns and cities translate into much lower levels of NO2.

"We will see how the reductions are greatest in the areas most strongly influenced by road traffic, so the city centres, streets in London, Birmingham and other urban centres. "

A roadside station in Chatham, Kent, has seen its pollution readings cut in half, since the same two-week period Last Year .

Ecologists Simon Curry said also sits on Medway Council, said: "I'm doing my once-a-day movement, and there are a lot more birds chirping is audible, which is heard a nice thing to have. "

Simon Curry Ecologists said he was saving an hour travel time to and from the meetings, He Said you>online,

"But it is a big disadvantage of this data," he added. "There are a lot of shops that are not going to make it through this. "

A Defra spokesman said: "As we make to protect all of the changes to our life and home to save the NHS and life, it is important that we understand how these changes affect the air quality and its impact on Public Health in the UK.

"That is why, during the early signs show that air pollution has decreased during this unprecedented time, we have called for the evidence to make sure we can fully understand the impact of the Corona-Virus is on the quality of the air. "

Charts from Daniel Wainwright, additional reporting by Emily Unia

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uk air pollution, oxford, bristol, birmingham, coronavirus lockdown measures, coronavirus pandemic

Source of news: bbc.com