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Still high levels of air pollution in south east today (Friday)





Data collected by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) at 6am has given the region the second highest rating of nine - of a possible 10 - along with the east Midlands and the north west of England and Merseyside.
Updated readings taken at 11am had seen the south east rating fall to seven - still in the high category, but only one above moderate levels.
It comes despite forecasts from the Met Office that levels should have returned to low by today.
All of the region, and the majority of England, is set to have returned to low by tomorrow according to the Met Office forecast.
A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), Matt George, said that 302 calls from patients experiencing breathing difficulties were received between Monday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 2, compared to 265 calls for similar reasons over the same period in the previous week.
He said: “Whilst it’s impossible to directly attribute this to the increase in air pollution, it’s of course advisable that patients with existing breathing related conditions, such as asthma), take extra precautions.
While there are no air quality monitoring sites in West Berkshire, some pollutants in neighbouring county Oxford are measured at high, and in Reading are moderate.
The high pollution levels were first reported on Wednesday, and are said to have been caused by dust blown from the Sahara, local emissions, light winds and pollution from Europe.
The head of the air pollution and climate change group at Public Health England’s centre for radiation, chemical and environmental hazards, Dr Sotiris Vardoulakis, said: “Whilst most people will not be affected by short term peaks in air pollution, some individuals, particularly vulnerable groups such as those with existing heart or lung conditions, may experience increased symptoms.
“On occasions where levels are high, adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms.
“People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often.
“Older people should also reduce physical exertion.
“Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors.”
Have you been affected by the high air pollution levels?
Let reporter Ellis Barker know by emailing ellis.barker@newburynews.co.uk



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