UK Air Quality Improving but Ozone Pollution Worsens, Scientists Warn

UK Air Quality Improving but Ozone Pollution Worsens, Scientists Warn
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Air pollution in the UK has declined since 2015 but still exceeds safe levels too often, researchers from the University of Reading report, The Guardian said. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), mostly from traffic, has dropped by 35%, and PM2.5 particles, produced by burning wood and car engines, fell by 30%.

However, the UK still breaches safety limits: days exceeding WHO targets for NO₂ dropped from 136 to 40 annually, while PM2.5 exceedances fell from 60 to 22 days. Meanwhile, surface ozone rose by 17% over the decade, with days exceeding safe levels doubling.

Ozone forms when sunlight reacts with NO₂ and industrial emissions and worsens with higher temperatures. Lead researcher Dr James Weber emphasized that although progress has been made, ozone’s rise shows the need for coordinated action targeting multiple pollutants, not single sources alone.