Town’s air quality under scrutiny again

The Government has released data showing the extent of PM10 – noxious particles which irritate the airways – in the atmosphere above the town.

The statistics reveal that between January 1 and May 14 there was a reading of 21 microgrammes of PM10 per cubic metre on Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, while there was a reading of 19 microgrammes per cubic metre at Queen’s Park. Those levels are higher than the 2013 Chatsworth Road and Queen’s Park readings.

A spokesman for Chesterfield Borough Council said: “Levels during the winter are always higher than in the summer months as more solid fuels are burned at that time of year.”

The spokesman added that the latest readings are likely to change as the year progresses. The legal limit is 40 microgrammes per cubic metre while the World Health Organisation’s target is 20 microgrammes per cubic metre. Air pollution – which is responsible for killing hundreds of people in the county each year – can cause heart disease, respiratory illnesses and cancers.