Smog In London Now Worse Than China's

Residents in London are now facing the highest air pollution alert in years after the air condition in the UK capital hit 197 micrograms per cubic metre for particulate matter on the Air Quality Index last Monday. The extreme cold weather, combined with the smoke emanating from land transport vehicles and wood from residential wood burners are said to be the culprit for the unhealthy air state.

Health officials in the UK are now very concerned since their air pollution is now worse than Beijing, China, who only hit 190 in air pollution readings. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has already issued a statement to the public.

"Today the shameful state of London's toxic air has meant that I am forced to trigger the first 'very high' air pollution alert under my new comprehensive alert system," he said. "This is the highest level of alert and everyone - from the most vulnerable to the physically fit - may need to take precautions to protect themselves from the filthy air."

Wood burning in Britain is particularly common since most families prefer wood-burning stoves to conserve money and energy bills. However, experts have warned the residents that this may cause "liberate significant amounts of particulate pollution into the outdoor air' and said they risked undoing the good work of the Clean Air Act which was brought in following the Great Smog of 1952, which is estimated to have killed 12,000 people", according to the Telegraph.

Not just in London, certain areas in Britain are now being affected by the unhealthy air and smog permeating the country. Eight regions of the UK are now also on high alert, particularly parts of Bristol, Belfast, and Nottingham.

This may cause severe health problems to all residents especially to the children. Asthma, bronchitis and severe coughs are some of the common illnesses brought by air pollution. Because of this, the British Lung Foundation is calling on the government to solve the problem as soon as possible. Banning the diesel cars according to them is a major step.

Every year, 9,500 deaths in London are caused by air pollution. Government health officials are now treating the matter in the highest priority, as air pollution may also contribute to possible economic damages.