Mayor of London and government air quality figures 'do not tally'

Figures released by the mayor of London earlier in the year on the reduction of air pollution in the capital do not accurately reflect government data on the subject that was released last week, reports Air Quality News. According to London Assembly member Murad Qureshi, mayor of London Boris Johnson's reports of reductions in PM2.5 levels in London "do not tally" with government findings.

The mayor published a progress report in July that detailed the improvements made in London as a result of his air quality strategy. The report stated that PM2.5 emissions had been reduced by 15 per cent when compared to those recorded in 2008. It also reported that nitrogen oxide emissions had been reduced by 20 per cent in this time.

Painting a different picture, governmental figures published this month reveal there was an increase in air pollution-related premature deaths during 2011 in 15 of the city's 33 boroughs. According to the news provider, Mr Qureshi, who spoke at the London Sustainability Conference on November 14th, commented that London's air pollution seems to be getting worse, rather than better as Mr Johnson claims.

“The data released from the Department for Health is revealing and it does show that things are getting worse rather than better, and this is contrary to what the mayor’s office is saying," said Mr Qureshi at the conference, reports the news provider.

He continued to say that the number of deaths recorded as being related to air pollution in London boroughs do not accurately match-up with the figures released by the Mayor of London's office. There is a discrepancy between the computer-modelled reduction figures of PM2.5 and the recorded deaths in the city, the news provider reports him as saying.

Mr Qureshi called for improvements to be made - to both policy and practice - that could reduce the amount of air pollution created within the capital. He also commented, according to the news provider, that Mr Johnson needs to make plans clearer when it comes to air pollution reduction schemes, such as the ultra-low emissions zones that he is planning on introducing.