Eastbourne one of most polluted towns in Britain, finds new report

Eastbourne has some of the highest levels of air pollution in Britain, according to a newly-published report.
Eastbourne...Breathe It In (Photo by Jon Rigby)Eastbourne...Breathe It In (Photo by Jon Rigby)
Eastbourne...Breathe It In (Photo by Jon Rigby)

The town is one of the worst offenders for breaching World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for toxic air, a study by the Royal College of Physicians has found.

It reports that Eastbourne has 15 micrograms of toxic particles per cubic metre of air – the WHO limit is 10.

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People in the town regularly breathe in a dangerously high 50 per cent more of the lethal particles than is healthy - equivalent to London levels. The research, published yesterday (Monday) by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and Lancet Countdown highlights what it says is the government’s need to take action on a substantial threat to public health.

The RCP’s lead on sustainability, Dr Toby Hillman, said, “We know that high exposures in early life have a major effect on lung and cognitive development throughout an individual’s life – that is why it is the government’s duty to improve the air we breathe and to ensure that people across the UK are not exposed to such a preventable cause of death and illness.

“Addressing climate change and poor air quality isn’t a burden or cost, but fundamentally an opportunity we should grasp with both hands.”