Health fears create bans
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by Karen Miles • Hauliers face a spate of lorry bans in the wake of Government research linking diesel fumes to fatal lung and heart disease, The Departments of Environment, Transport and Health have pledged support to any moves by local councils to temporarily ban lorries from over-polluted areas. They will also back any fuel duty rises in the forthcoming Budget.
Any new measures to combat exhaust pollution will be on top of moves already scheduled for next year, including the EU's Euro-2 emission limit and the launch of low-sulphur fuels.
When the Government publishes its Air Quality Strategy consultation document at the end of the year it is expected to propose the adoption of an air quality standard for fine particles of 50 micrograms per cubic metre—much less than the 150-200mg levels recorded at the roadside during the most polluted periods.
The Freight Transport Association's deputy direc tor-general Richard Turner says: "If it becomes necessary to introduce sudden bans it will mean we will have failed.
"We must improve technology and company traffic planning to reduce pollution so that the ultimate solution—which is a disaster—is never necessary."
The Department of Health research shows that most people are not at risk from diesel fumes, but that pollutants could bring worsening symptoms and even early death to those already suffering respiratory and cardiac diseases.
Friends of the Earth believes that particulates could cause the premature deaths of up to 10,000 people a year in the UK.