THE SDLP’s Sinéad McLaughlin has urged Environment Minister Edwin Poots to take stronger and faster action in relation to the poor air quality in Derry.
She was responding to a written answer from minister Poots, which McLaughlin described as ‘weak’ and ‘ineffective’.
At the end of last year it was revealed in the 2020 Air Quality report that the Brandywell monitoring station in Derry consistently exceeded the UK government’s air quality threshold for dangerous hydrocarbons – B[a]P, or benzo[a]pyrene.
The Derry site shows concentrations more than twice the guidelines specified in the UK Air Quality Strategy.
Following the publication of that report, McLaughlin asked minister Poots what action he will take to improve air quality.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The response from minister Poots is weak and ineffective, in fact it is complacent. Although he claimed the Clean Air Strategy is ‘making good progress’, this is far from the case in Derry.
“The people of Derry continue to suffer from poor quality air.
“It is essential that stronger and faster action is taken by minister Poots and his department to improve air quality, especially in relation to the emission of hydrocarbons.
“These hydrocarbons are extremely dangerous and are recognised internationally as connected to the development of cancers.
“It is essential that action is taken to strengthen the law to improve air quality. The onus for doing this lies with minister Poots, who must introduce stronger regulations to control airborne pollution.
“So-called B[a]Ps are produced from the burning of solid fuels and some industrial processes. Dangerous hydrocarbons are also found in vehicle emissions and cigarette smoke.
“Animal experiments conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found these hydrocarbons cause tumours.
“There is clearly an association between poor air quality in areas of Derry with the high incidence of ill health in the city,” added Ms McLaughlin.
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