A SURVEY by Friends of the Earth has revealed 10 sites in Bradford have breached the annual Air Quality Objective for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels, which is set to protect health.

In Bradford the most polluted site was Queens Road with levels of NO2 of 66ug/m3, more than 50 per cent over the objective limit of 40ug/m3.

The group says 227 sites in Yorkshire breached the objective.

READ MORE: High levels of pollution in Shipley

Of these, Neville Street in Leeds was actually found to be the most polluted UK location outside of London, with an NO2 level of 99ug/m3.

High levels of NO2 can cause a flare up of asthma or symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing. A leading cause of NO2 pollution is emissions from road traffic.

Friends of the Earth is campaigning for Clean Air Zones to be rolled out in far more places than are being planned, supported by measures such as improved infrastructure to support safe cycling and walking.

This would see fewer polluting vehicles on our roads and would ultimately improve public health. Removing such vehicles would also contribute to reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change.

Bradford locations ranked by annual average level of NO2 (in ug/m3) are: Queen's Road – 66; Treadwell Mills – 63.7; Cock and Bottle – 58; Bingley Road - 52.8; Shipley Airedale Road – 52; Canal Road – 51; Harrogate Road – 51; Manchester Road / Mayo Avenue – 46; Manningham Lane – 41; Tong Street – 41.

James Craig, clean air campaigner at Baildon Friends of the Earth, said: “It’s very concerning to see many locations across the region over air quality limits, leaving thousands of us breathing dangerously polluted air.

"It is harming the health of people across our city and is especially bad for young children whose lungs are still developing.

"Reports and public health articles in academic journals have been published for years, on the impact of air pollution on health and the scientific evidence continues to mount up, but little seems to be happening.

“This is a public health emergency and we need Bradford Council to take urgent action to reduce our exposure not only to NO2 as required by DEFRA, but also the minute particulates that are emitted by all motor vehicles.

"Also, road and junction-widening schemes (of the sort which have been put out for public consultation), are shown to generate more traffic. Congestion will worsen. Bradford Council should be implementing a Clean Air Zone now and calling on the Government for more resources, so that they can protect all of our health.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Bradford Council is working closely with the government's Joint Air Quality Unit to develop a plan for dealing with the known air quality issues throughout the district.

"The timescales for this work are prescribed by government who are responding to the High court mandated deadline which requires Bradford to produce its draft plan by 31 October 2019.

"Over the coming months we will be assessing a range of interventions to find the options which achieve air quality compliance in the shortest possible time and welcome the support of Clean Air Bradford in this work.”

Yorkshire locations ranked by annual average level of NO2 (in ug/m3) are: Neville Street (NW Tunnel entrance), Leeds – 99; Fir Tree Close, Hickleton, Doncaster – 96; John O’Gaunts, Hickleton, Doncaster – 87; Platform 3A/2B, Sheffield – 77; Neville Street (NE Tunnel entrance), Leeds – 76; Platform 6A, Sheffield – 74; Arundel Gate Interchange, Sheffield – 72; Harborough Hill Road, Barnsley – 68.7; Bishopgate Street, Leeds – 67; 10= Queens Road, Bradford – 66; 10= New Bank North, Calderdale – 66.