Reductions in Wigan air pollution levels last year

There may have been a lot of upheaval in 2020 but the borough did notably become a cleaner, greener place.
NO2 is produced by vehiclesNO2 is produced by vehicles
NO2 is produced by vehicles

Data published by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) shows nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels fell in the borough throughout the year compared to 2019.

Exclusive analysis by JPIMedia found there were 34 weeks in 2020 in which the average NO2 reading from Wigan’s station in the country’s biggest air pollution monitoring network was lower than the equivalent week the previous year.

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In contrast, there were just 13 in the period looked at when air pollution levels were higher in 2020 than in 2019.

There were large weekly reductions in air pollution in 2020 compared to 2019There were large weekly reductions in air pollution in 2020 compared to 2019
There were large weekly reductions in air pollution in 2020 compared to 2019

The cut-off point for the data was the end of the second national lockdown at the start of December.

The two country-wide shutdowns had major impacts on air quality, with average NO2 levels detected by the borough’s station in the Automatic Urban and Rural Monitoring Network (AURN) lower in every week compared to the previous year during the period in spring when residents were ordered to stay at home.

For the second lockdown in the autumn NO2 levels were higher in Wigan for the first week of reduced movements and business openings but were then much lower than the corresponding weeks the previous year until the borough went back into Tier 3 restrictions.

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During those periods there were some spectacular improvements in air quality too, with a drop of 50 per cent registered during the second lockdown and two weeks in the first one when air pollution levels were more than 40 per cent lower than in 2019.

In the summer, when a number of different local and regional restrictions were introduced at various points, there was a much less clear-cut picture with periods of higher NO2 emissions followed by weeks where it was lower than in 2019.

However, over 11 months of the year there was just over two and a half times more weeks when NO2 emissions were lower compared to the equivalent time the previous year than ones where 2020 was worse for nitrogen dioxide than 2019.

The highest weekly averages in 2020 were recorded towards the end of the year and at the start of the year before Covid-19 hit.

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This is very similar to the 2019 pattern, when NO2 emission levels were at their highest during the winter months.

As NO2 is released from car exhausts increased use of vehicles during the coldest and wettest period of the year would seem to be a possible explanation for the data results.

Overall there were six weeks in 2019 when the average was above the biggest figure recorded during a seven-day period in 2020.

Wigan Council said that for all the hardship and difficulties the novel coronavirus had clearly brought, a reduction in traffic on the road had undoubtedly played its part in making the town’s air more breathable and cleaner.

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The local authority also said there are other ways in which residents can get involved in shaping environmentally-friendly policies for the borough.

Paul Barton, director of environment at Wigan Council, said: “Since announcing our climate change emergency, we have made great strides in addressing factors contributing to climate change and global warming locally.

“Whilst the coronavirus pandemic has presented challenges, it has also highlighted the benefits the small changes in our behaviour can bring.

“The way we have had to adapt our way of living this year has had a direct and positive impact on the reduction of NO2 emissions in the air.

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“Driving less, especially on those short journeys, is the single biggest thing we can all do to help reduce air pollution.

Residents have also had the opportunity to give their views on Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone plans, which aims to improve air quality on local roads across the region and bring nitrogen dioxide air pollution levels from road vehicles within legal limits by 2024.”

The figures come from the Wigan Centre monitoring station in the AURN network.

It is located next to the hockey pitch at The Deanery CE High School on Frog Lane.

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