Cleaner air forecast for London in the next few days after smog alert

 
Cruiser collision: Tower Bridge
4 April 2014

Concern about the health impact of this week’s smog deepened when it emerged that the number of Londoners with breathing problems spiked by more than a third yesterday.

Latest figures from the London Ambulance Service showed a 34 per cent increase in patients struggling with breathing compared to an average Thursday.

The rise came on the worst day of the pollution - caused by a combination of car fumes, European industrial emissions and Saharan dust.

Readings of dangerous gases hit the highest “ten out of ten” levels in parts of the capital leading to pupils at some schools being stopped from playing outside.

Predictions for the next few days are for levels two and three for air pollution, according to Met Office data.

A westerly airstream blowing in cleaner Atlantic air started to reduce reading today with Government officials at Defra forecasting only “moderate” levels of pollution.

In pictures: London smog 2014

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Boris Johnson was accused of “dangerous complacency” after he said alarmists were overreacting to one of the worst smog episodes in London of recent years and insisted he would continue to cycle to work as normal.

Ambulance chiefs said there were 282 emergency 999 calls on Thursday compared with an average of 211.

Official advice during the smog was for adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, to stop strenuous physical exercise particularly outdoors. David Cameron gave up his regular morning jog on Wednesday because of the poor air quality.

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