Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today officially announced a “public health emergency” due to London’s current air pollution levels.
Central London boroughs Westminster and The City are set to reach “high peaks” over the next 24 hours, with 17 less centralised boroughs reaching “moderate” (which is still way higher than it should be).
Khan appeared on live television this morning to announce the news. He said, “London’s dirty air is a public health emergency.” The elderly, children and those with lung or heart problems are advised to avoid any physical activity in the central London area.
The official advice from the Department for the Environment states, “Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors. People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion.”
Khan has always been concerned with the levels of pollution in the capital. During his election campaign he promised to pedestrianise Oxford Street, a promise that he plans on accomplishing as soon as 2020.
But it’s not only London that’s having mad air problems. China’s capital city Beijing is currently experiencing such bad smog problems that it’s being referred to as an “airpocalypse”.