The average person breathes in 13 pints of air every minute, and the quality of the air we breathe can have a great impact on our health and wellbeing. Poor air quality can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma and has also been linked to cancer and cardiac disease.
Wigan has some fantastic green spaces where we can enjoy clean fresh air, however we do know that at the roadside, some areas have elevated levels of certain pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide.
How we're improving air quality
We want to ensure we have clean air throughout the borough and to do this, we have recently published Our Air Quality and Transport Action Plan, containing measures such as:
- Improved cycling and walking infrastructure
- Upgrading our fleet
- Enhancing our road network.
However, there is also a role for residents, communities and businesses as we cannot do this in isolation and need everyone to play their part.
Vehicle pollution
We know that the biggest contributing factor to poor air quality in our Borough is emissions from vehicles. During the pandemic we saw greatly reduced numbers of vehicles on the road and this lead to reduced levels of pollution measured at the roadside.
60% of 1-2 mile trips in England are made by car. Many people mistakenly think they are better protected from poor air quality when they are in their car, when in fact the opposite is true, studies show that levels of gases like nitrogen dioxide are higher inside the car than outside.
Be the solution to the pollution
We're asking everyone to #Bethesolutiontothepollution and to do their bit to help reduce emissions, and tackle the climate crisis we are currently facing.
- One of the main actions we can take to improve air quality and protect our health is to get out of our cars and use more sustainable modes of transport, like walking, cycling and public transport. This also has the added benefit of increasing our exercise and improving our mental wellbeing
- Children have developing lungs and are closer to the source of pollution and are one of the most vulnerable groups impacted by poor air quality. Although we're piloting the closure of roads leading to the school at drop off and pick up time, this is not feasible in all locations. So to protect our children, why not try walking to school or park away from the school and walk the rest of the way
- To protect yourself from poor air quality, try to take quieter roads and walk away from the kerb as the levels of pollution can vary greatly over a short distance.
Every action that we take no matter how small, can add up to a big change.