Shocking new data has revealed 13 Aberdeen locations with illegal levels of toxic nitrogen dioxide pollution.
The city has long since failed to meet European Air Quality Directive (EAQD) deadlines for reducing emission levels, which were due to have been met in 2010.
And though there have been improvements – and a long-term masterplan is being taken forward by the council – campaigners believe city residents are at risk of lasting damage.
Later this month, they will take to the city’s streets in protest at the speed of change, led by Aberdeen Cycle Forum and Friends of the Earth Scotland.
The latest figures, contained within Aberdeen City Council’s Air Quality Progress Report 2018, shows that over the course of a year some areas have an average of up to 48 microgrammes of the gas per cubic metre.
The EAQD set a limit for NO2 of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre, with the deadline for compliance initially January 1 2010.
Last night environmental charity Friends of the Earth Scotland called on the council to speed up the introduction of controversial London-style Low Emission Zones (LEZ) into the city.
These would work by potentially restricting certain types of vehicles in some areas, charging them for entry or completely banning drivers from the zones.
The Scottish Government has said Aberdeen and three other cities will have LEZs in operation by 2020.
Glasgow’s LEZ will commence on December 31 but will only initially apply to 20% of buses travelling through the city centre
While air quality has improved in the Granite City in recent years, the charity has criticised Aberdeen Council for not making enough progress on their own zone.
Friends of the Earth Aberdeen coordinator Gregor McAbery said: “These worrying figures demonstrate the severity and the scale of Aberdeen’s largely traffic related air pollution problems.
“The city centre is comprehensively failing to meet legal standards and this air pollution is damaging all of our health and shortening lives.
“I hope the council will retain the focus to bring forward and enforce an effective city centre-wide low emissions zone that includes key routes in and around the city centre.”
The charity’s air pollution campaigner Gavin Thomson added: “Air pollution on Scottish streets causes 2,500 early deaths each year.
“Toxic air from traffic in Aberdeen particularly endangers children, the elderly and those who are already suffering ill health.
“Air pollution where people live and work is causing damage to health every day and the council needs to act swiftly to cut illegal pollution levels.
“People in Aberdeen need to know that the council is working on plans to clean up the city’s pollution problems through a Low Emission Zone.”
The charity has joined forces with the Aberdeen Cycle Forum to hold a protest outside Marks and Spencer on Sunday from 12-2pm, to highlight the issue.
Rachel Martin, of Aberdeen Cycle Forum, said: “Air pollution is a growing problem and we are only just beginning to understand the effect this pollution has on people’s health.
“We wanted to find a way to put this higher on the political agenda and we thought a protest might be a good way to highlight it.
“While we welcome some of the steps the council are taking we want the action to come faster.”
She added: “Aberdeen is a fantastic place to live but pollution from motor vehicles is damaging our health.
“We want our city to be a place where everyone can breathe clean air and we believe this will make it a more appealing place to live, visit, and do business.”
Councillor Ross Grant, the administration’s transport spokesman, said: “This administration is committed to reducing pollution within our city.
“In 2016 we brought forward plans to look at Low Emission Zones and we are currently working with the Scottish Government on finding workable solutions.
“Aberdeen City Council, thanks to this administration’s forward thinking, has invested heavily in hydrogen buses and electric points throughout the city thus encouraging the public to think about our climate.”
Mr Grant added “We firmly believe that our city centre masterplan, which is looking at how best we meet the needs of our city centre including looking at pedestrianisation, will bring positive results which I am sure Friends of the Earth welcome.”
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