One of our residents has analysed Imperial College modelling (for DEFRA) at postcode level along Greenstreet, the section of the A2 London Road that borders the parishes of Lynsted and Teynham.  

The model shows all addresses be in exceedance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) limits for particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Imperial College’s use of colour bands corresponds to the deciles in which our addresses fall when compared to the national picture.  So purple means that we are in the worst polluted addresses in the country.  Red takes you down one level of “deciles” into the second worst addresses on the national scale and so on.

Because of the topography along the London Road (single thoroughfare, increasing levels of traffic, complexity leading to congestion as people navigate junctions, parked cars, van deliveries, etc) we are suffering an increasingly harmful set of conditions.  Made much worse where the historic pattern of development means most of these homes front directly onto the A2.  Therefore, no mitigation is possible.

To explain how to interpret this data, take the first entry as an example:  Claxfield Farmhouse, London Road ME9 9PX.

Pollutant one:  PM2.5

At this address, the annual average of the pollutant PM2.5 is 10.68mcg/m3. The WHO limit is 5mcg/m3.

Nearly a fifth of strokes are attributed to exposure (for a year or more) of PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 10mcg/m3.

PM2.5 can also cause asthma, jeopardize lung functions and promote cancer.

Pollutant two:  PM10

The reading for PM10 at this address is 17.56mcg/m3. The WHO limit is 15mcg/m3.

Cardiovascular mortality increases by 0.76% and respiratory mortality by 0.58% for every 10mcg/m3 increase of PM10.

PM10 can cause wheezing, bronchitis and reduce lung development.

Pollutant three:  NO2

The reading for NO2 at this address is 13.01mcg/m3.  The WHO limit is 10mcg/m3.

Long term exposure to even low levels of this toxic gas increases mortality rates and contributes to the development of asthma, and other respiratory issues.

See the analysis  HERE