15 February 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hampstead’s poisoned air 
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The Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum has measured atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and found dangerous and illegal levels of the poison throughout its area. The Forum is joining other groups in a public meeting to examine what needs to be done to address this health emergency. 

NO2 turns to nitric acid in the lungs. While the law limits how much we can breathe, there is no level that is safe.[1] Ultrafine particulate matter (PM) is a Group 1 carcinogen found together with NO2. Public Health England attributes 7.7% of all deaths in Camden in 2010 to PM poisoning, and estimates it shortens London lives by 11-12 years. [2] Roughly half of NO2 and 80% of PM is emitted by motor traffic.[3] 

“The air in leafy Hampstead is better than in central London,” said Janine Griffis, chair of the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum, “but even here our residents and our many schoolchildren breathe dangerous levels of poison. The volume of traffic in Hampstead is a clear concern. It’s time to rethink transport policies in which cars play such a large part.” 

The Forum will join other groups reporting their local NO2 readings at a public meeting at St Stephens Rosslyn Hill on 26 April. 

References
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1. “Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health”, World Health Organization, Fact sheet N°311, March 2014 
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/
2. “Estimating local mortality burdens associated with particulate air pollution”, Public Health England, April 2014
3. “Camden’s Clean Air Action Plan 2013-2015”, London Borough of Camden

Note to editors
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Photos are available on request. 

**ENDS**

For further information, please contact: 
Alexander Nicoll, communications officer
Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum 
agrnicoll@google.mail.com 
07736 072468