ASTHMATICS are being warned of dangerously high levels of air pollution in the Glasgow area.

 

Campaigners say several sites across the city are breaking daily legal limits.

Areas affected on Wednesday include High Street, Abercromby Street, Nithsdale Road, Rutherglen and Hamilton.

The high levels of particulate matter are down to a weather pattern coming in from Europe, as well as high levels of pollution already in the city.

The pollution has spread from parts of Aberdeen and Dundee down to the central belt.

Adults and children with lung problems, adults with heart problems, and older people are advised to avoid strenuous physical activity.

Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoE) campaigners said people with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often.

The stable, calm weather over the past few days have prevented the pollution from dispersing.

Air pollution campaigner for FoE Emilia Hanna said: The legal limit is being broken in some parts of Glasgow.

"We are very concerned. There's a particle storm as everything hangs in the air."

Ms Hanna called for more to be done to tackle pollution.

She said: "Pollution from road traffic is the key cause of this current air pollution episode.

"During an episode like this, asthmatics are more prone to an attack and we may see an increase in hospital admissions for respiratory conditions and heart attacks.

"This type of pollution kills more than 2000 people every year in Scotland.

"We need better cycle and walking paths, cleaner public transport, and Low Emission Zones rolled out in our cities.

"Low Emission Zones are where the most polluting vehicles are banned from key areas of cities and have proven to be successful in several major European countries as well as in London."