Study finds one in four UK neighbourhoods suffer multiple types of pollution

New research published by Friends of the Earth has unveiled that 27.5 percent of neighbourhoods in England are breaching multiple pollution thresholds. This poor sustainability management is presenting substantial risks to nature. 

The purpose behind the research

The study identifies ‘pollution hotspots’, where air, water, noise, and light pollution converge at levels harmful to a variety of species, including native bats and bees. This research revealed that pollution in several hotspots is affecting the natural world. These areas are defined by waterways contaminated with raw sewage, disruptive noise, light pollution, and poor air quality that exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines. 

Friends of the Earth were inspired to carry out this research as they felt governments have continued to fail to protect the natural world. They urged that it is important people can enjoy the benefits of thriving nature without harming their health in the process. Friends of the Earth ranked pollution hotspots based on constituencies so MPs and citizens alike can understand how pollution affects their local area and take action. 

They feel polluters must not only be held accountable for the harm they are inflicting but be forced to clean it up. The organisation is demanding that stronger laws be implemented to achieve this. They also feel this would give power back to communities to defend their rights in court, establishing a healthier and cleaner environment for individuals and wildlife alike. 

The many types of pollution in England neighbourhoods

The study highlighted the places that had the highest concentration of pollution hotspots were Chelsea and Fulham. They were followed by Salford, Worsley, Eccles, Vauxhall, Camberwell and Battersea. The report also shared the widespread impact of pollution on wildlife. 

Toxic chemicals and sewage are being pumped into habitats over 1000 times per day in some of the worst-affected areas. This results in algal blooms, which deplete oxygen levels in the water, choking fish and other aquatic life. Additionally, the report explores how noise pollution disrupts communication and foraging behaviours across 109 species, including birds, fish, and mammals, contributing to biodiversity loss. 

The report shares that artificial light pollution is particularly harmful to nocturnal creatures such as moths and bats. It also disrupts bird migration, and reproduction, and threatens their survival. Moreover, air pollution, especially nitrogen overload from vehicles, is another serious threat. It endangers native plant life and impairs the ability of pollinators such as honeybees to follow floral scent trails, critical for food production. The study also focused on the broader impact of these multiple types of pollution on people. According to WHO, air pollution kills approximately seven million people worldwide each year. 

With all these findings in mind, Friends of the Earth is now advocating for the right to a healthy environment to be established via a new Environmental Rights Act. The proposed law would strive to give communities the power to hold regulators and public bodies accountable for reducing the multiple types of environmental pollution in their areas. This would enhance protection for people and wildlife. 

Summary

The research conducted by Friends of the Earth is a critical step in exposing the severity of pollution in England and its profound impacts on both people and wildlife. By highlighting the multiple types of pollution in England neighbourhoods, they not only provide clear evidence of the issue but also offer a much-needed call to action. 

Their advocacy for stronger environmental laws and the empowerment of local communities to defend their right to a healthy environment underlines the urgency of this matter. This is not just a wake-up call but a reminder that tackling pollution is essential for ensuring both human well-being and the survival of biodiversity in our natural ecosystems.