Two neighbourhoods in the City Centre North and Collyhurst area and one in Piccadilly and Ancoats in Manchester are the most polluted in Greater Manchester, according to new figures from the Geographic Data Service. Residents breathe an annual average of nearly 16 micrograms of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and more than 21 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), well above World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.
WHO Guidelines Exceeded Across the Region
The WHO recommends annual averages of no more than 5 micrograms of PM2.5 and 15 micrograms of NO2. The new figures show all neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester had PM2.5 levels over that amount, while 98% had excess NO2 levels.
The hardest-hit areas include parts of Miles Platting, New Islington and Cheetham Hill in Manchester, as well as several neighbourhoods in the Greengate and Blackfriars area of Salford and parts of Chadderton in Oldham.
Cleanest Air Still Above Guidelines
At the other end of the scale, a neighbourhood in the Greenfield and Uppermill area of Oldham had the cleanest air in Greater Manchester. However, PM2.5 levels there were still nearly twice as high as the recommended amount. Scientists stress that even these limits are not “safe”, as pollutants can cause damage at any level.
Health Risks of Air Pollution
Particulate matter can bypass the body's natural defences and travel deep into the lungs and bloodstream, posing serious health risks including stinging eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, lung cancer, respiratory infections, and cardiovascular diseases. Exposure to NO2 can inflame airways, trigger asthma attacks, reduce lung function, and increase the risk of respiratory infections.
Reactions from Campaigners and Government
Jonathan Blades, head of policy and public affairs at Asthma + Lung UK, called the figures 'unacceptable'. He said: “It’s unacceptable that communities across the UK are being exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution, which is linked to up to 43,000 deaths across the UK every year. This will be especially worrying for the 12 million people living with a lung condition who are particularly vulnerable to the impact of poor air quality. These statistics show that current UK guidelines on air pollution are outdated and failing to protect our communities.”
The charity would like the Labour Party to recommit support for a new Clean Air Act that sets legally binding air quality targets in line with WHO guidelines, as well as a national public awareness campaign.
A Defra spokesperson said: “Poor air quality robs people of their health and costs the NHS millions in extra treatments for lung conditions and asthma. That is why the government remains committed to improving air quality to deliver benefits for public health, the environment, and the economy. The action we've taken includes setting new air quality targets to cut exposure to harmful particles by nearly a third by 2030. Alongside this, we are taking steps to reform areas like simpler industrial permits to reduce emissions and have consulted on exploring tightening standards for new wood burning appliances to help reduce health impacts.”
