Scotland’s most polluted streets

By Gavin Thomson, Transport Campaigner

At the beginning of every year, we look at the data from the air pollution monitors around Scotland and analyse it to find out if Scotland has broken the legal limits, to see what the overall trends are, and to name our most polluted streets This year we have some good news: Scotland did not breach legal air pollution limits in 2022

This is the first time it has done so since the limits were introduced in 2010, excluding 2020. In 2020, the strict first lockdown meant that we saw a historic low for air pollution in Scotland. Unfortunately, in 2021 we saw pollution levels begin to rebound, despite some pandemic restrictions remaining, and Hope Street in Glasgow was so bad it once again broke the legal limit

This improvement in air quality in 2022, particularly in Glasgow, is a clear sign that the low emission zones are already working, and they haven’t even formally begun.

Of course this does not mean that the air pollution problem is solved – many streets are just below the legal limit, and some did get worse in 2022 – but it’s a positive step

The impact of Low Emission Zones

In Glasgow, where we saw the biggest improvement in air quality, the Low Emission Zone started in 2019 by restricting the most polluting buses. Now every bus going through the city centre has to meet the minimum emission standard, with private cars to follow in June this year To support bus operators to meet the criteria, the Scottish Government has provided grants for buying new buses or retrofitting older buses.

Most polluted streets in Scotland

Nitrogen dioxide

1 Hope Street, Glasgow

2 St John’s Road, Edinburgh

3 Atholl Street, Perth

4 Lochee Road, Dundee

5 Byres Road, Glasgow

In Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen, the low emission zones will come into effect in June of this year, but bus companies have already begun to update their vehicles with the grant money, so we’re already starting to see some improvements The very oldest, most polluting cars will be restricted from the zones in those cities from June 2024.

Unfortunately in Perth and Inverness, where low emission zones aren’t planned, we’ve not seen any improvement, and in some places it’s even got worse It’s clear that LEZs really make an impact and that councils across Scotland should be considering them for any polluted areas.

Most polluted streets in Scotland

Particulate matter

1 Atholl Street, Perth

2 High Street, Ayr

3 St John’s Road, Edinburgh

4 Bonnygate, Cupar

5 Salamander Street, Edinburgh

We analysed official air pollution data for 2022, looking at two toxic pollutants which are primarily produced by transport, and these were the most polluted streets.

Air pollution is still a problem

Air pollution from transport is responsible for thousands of premature deaths in Scotland every year, and causes serious heart and lung issues There’s also growing evidence of the impact of air pollution on our brains, and recent studies have linked it with dementia.

Nitrogen dioxide is the toxic gas caused by burning fossil fuels in car engines Particulate matter is caused by things like soot from engines and dust from road surfaces.

Andrew Dallas, GP at Cairn Medical Practice in Inverness and chair of Highland Healthcare for Climate Action, commented on the persistant pollution problem in Inverness:

"We know that on days where air pollution levels are higher, we see increased levels of admission to hospital as a result. It contributes to lung disease, heart disease, stroke and many other conditions. It also contributes to health inequalities because people in lower income areas are significantly more exposed to air pollution. This is yet another health injustice as those suffering most from the effects of air pollution they had little to do with creating it.

“Despite all this, the quality of our air is not high enough on our agenda and it is frustrating to see little progress being made in Inverness. The solutions to this problem are well established. If we create low emission zones, better public transport and better active travel infrastructure we can reduce the health burden of air pollution, reduce our contribution to climate change and enjoy all the well documented health benefits of being more active."

David Cody from campaign group Get Glasgow Moving said:

“It’s great that the Low Emission Zone is starting to make a difference, alongside the new electric buses bought with millions of public money – this would not have happened if it was left to the bus operators.

“The Low Emission Zone shows that when the council acts in our interest, it can have an impact – but it's a baby step compared to the change we need. For better air, lower emissions, and an end to transport poverty and social isolation, we need Glasgow City Council and neighbouring councils to take transport into public hands.” need to take control of our public transport to run comprehensive services that serve passengers not profit, and more options for safe walking and cycling, to improve the air we breathe permanently.