London was put on alert for a public health emergency today over toxic air pollution.

Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, said air pollution could rise to 'moderate' in more than half of the capital's 32 boroughs as he issued the warnings for the next three days.

Central London will be worst hit, with the warnings rising to 'high' in Westminster and the Square Mile tomorrow.

Public health advice recommends people experiencing sore eyes, a cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity - particularly the outdoors - during 'high' pollution alerts.

'We will continue to use all the technology at our disposal to inform Londoners about levels of air pollution in their neighbourhoods.' </s> A toxic air alert has been issued for London for the next three days in what mayor Sadiq Khan has called a ‘public health emergency’.

City Hall has warned that air pollution could rise to ‘moderate levels’ today in the City and 17 boroughs and then hit ‘high’ in Westminster and Square Mile tomorrow before reducing to ‘moderate’ on Friday.

The roads in the capital hit by the heaviest traffic will also experience ‘high’ pollution over the same three days, according to airtext forecasts.

The London Mayor said: ‘London’s dirty air is a public health emergency.

‘We will continue to use all the technology at our disposal to inform Londoners about levels of air pollution in their neighbourhoods.’

During periods of ‘high’ pollution, the Department for the Environment advises anyone experiencing discomfort, such sore eyes, cough or sore throat, should reduce activity.

It said: ‘Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms.

‘People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion.’ </s> ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Mayor Sadiq Khan today put London on toxic air alert for at least three days.

City Hall sent out warnings that air pollution could rise today to “moderate” in 17 boroughs and the City.

It is then set to hit a “high” peak in Westminster and the Square Mile tomorrow before reducing to “moderate” in these two areas on Friday.

But some of the capital’s busiest main roads will be blighted by “high” pollution on all three days, according to the airtext forecasts put out by the Mayor.

Mr Khan said: “London’s dirty air is a public health emergency.

“We will continue to use all the technology at our disposal to inform Londoners about levels of air pollution in their neighbourhoods.”

The Department for Environment suggested the pollution episode could last until at least Sunday.

Official health advice on days of “moderate” air pollution says adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, who experience symptoms, should consider reducing strenuous physical activity.

If it reaches a “high” level, these groups of people should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms.

People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion.

For the general public, the “high” pollution advice is that anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, a cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors. </s> A toxic air alert has been issued for London over the next three days, as Mayor Sadiq Khan warned of a "public health emergency".

Air pollution is set to hit a "high peak" in central parts of the capital including Westminster and the Square Mile, after rising to "moderate" in a total of 17 boroughs on Wednesday.

While levels of toxicity are set to return to normal on Friday, airtext forecasts issued by the Mayor suggest many of London's busiest roads will suffer "high" pollution on all three days.

“We will continue to use all the technology at our disposal to inform Londoners about levels of air pollution in their neighbourhoods.”

Official advice issued by the Department for the Environment says: "Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, who experience symptoms, should consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors."

If air pollution hits "high" levels, these groups of people are advised to reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms.

"Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors," the guidance says.

"People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion." </s> News of the pollution levels in our smog-filled city hasn’t been great of late. Just five days into 2017, London breached its yearly air pollution limit, and now things have just been cranked up to a whole new level. Sadiq Khan has just put London on toxic air alert for at least three days and warned that Londoners face a ‘public health emergency’. Blimey.

Air pollution is set to hit a ‘high peak’ in central parts of the capital, including Westminster and the Square Mile, after rising to ‘moderate’ in 17 boroughs. An airtext forecast sent out by the Mayor suggests some of London’s busiest roads will be hit with ‘high’ pollution on all three days.

The Mayor of London, who’s pledged to spend a whopping £875 million on London's pollution problem, said: ‘London’s dirty air is a public health emergency. We will continue to use all the technology at our disposal to inform Londoners about levels of air pollution in their neighbourhoods.’

And official advice from the Department for the Environment isn't too reassuring. They’ve told older people and anyone with lung problems, asthma or heart problems to reduce strenuous physical activity outdoors on 'moderate' and 'high' air pollution days, while anyone experiencing sore eyes, a cough or sore throat should also advised to reduce their physical activity when levels are 'high'.

In the meantime, if you haven’t invested in one of those weird masks yet, there’s a handy app that'll let you know if you're about to succumb to a pollution-related illness. So, that should (sort of) help you breathe a little easier.

On the plus side, pollution levels are decreasing on Oxford Street. </s> A London-wide air quality warning has been issued as the cold, clear conditions cause pollution in the capital.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has triggered the air quality alert, which will be displayed at bus stops, tube stations and roadsides to give Londoners information about the situation.

Air which has brought pollutants from industrialised and urban areas of Germany and the other side of the Channel, is combining with local emissions that have built up in the still conditions in London on Thursday.

The London Air Quality Network run by King's College London said there is expected to be moderate levels of pollutants known as particulates, with high levels of PM2.5 particulates at busy roadsides.

Moderate levels of nitrogen dioxide are expected close to busy roads as a result of poor dispersal of the pollutant.

Under such conditions, adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, who experience symptoms, are advised to consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors.

The mayor's air quality alert system was first triggered in December, after it was announced in August.

Mr Khan said: " The extent of our air quality crisis means that I have today triggered a London-wide air quality alert, ensuring Londoners have all the information possible.

"It's crucial that Londoners who are vulnerable, such as asthma sufferers, are able to take appropriate measures to protect themselves."

He said London was delivering on an ambitious programme to tackle air pollution, including bringing in ultra-low emissions zone and cleaning up the bus fleet, but called on the Government to play its part.

"By funding a national diesel scrappage scheme, reforming vehicle excise duty and bringing in a new Clean Air Act the Government could finally prove that they match our ambition.

"This requires all levels of Government to work together as an urgent priority to finally tackle the problem once and for all." </s> In addition, construction and demolition work were banned for the next five days, Kejriwal said at a news conference called to announce emergency measures to protect the public from air pollution.

He cautioned that odd-even rationing for vehicles -- in which cars would only be allowed to operate on alternating days depending on their license plate numbers -- could be implemented if the situation does not improve soon.

More than 5,000 schools will be closed. The emergency measures follow a week of unusually high smog levels in the city, which many people blamed on the firecrackers and fireworks set off last Sunday night in celebration of Diwali.

The Air Quality Index from the US Embassy in Delhi measured the city's air quality at 999 at one point on Sunday, a level considered hazardous and more than three times the measured level of 300 in previous weeks. </s> NEW DELHI--Authorities in Delhi on Monday closed schools, halted construction work and shut down a major power plant after days of choking smog led to warnings of a health "emergency" in the world's most polluted capital.

Pollution levels have spiked in recent days as farmers in neighboring Indian states burn crop stubble after the harvest and temperatures cool, trapping pollutants in a smoggy haze over the city.

Delhi's air quality generally worsens with the onset of autumn, particularly after the Diwali festival when millions of revelers let off heavily polluting firecrackers.

But this year's change has been particularly dramatic, with the American embassy reporting hazardous pollution levels for several days running.

On Monday morning it put levels of PM2.5 — the fine particles linked to higher rates of chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease — at an off-the-charts 778.

Levels between 301 and 500 are classified as "hazardous," meaning everyone faces a risk of respiratory effects and should stay indoors, while levels above 500 are beyond the official index.

Manan Mahato, who drives an auto rickshaw in Delhi, said he had sent his children to his native village because he was worried about their health.

"It has become risky to stay in Delhi because of the pollution," he said, holding a handkerchief over his mouth because he cannot afford a proper face mask.

"I am sending my children back to the village as I am worried for their health. If it stays like this, I think this city won't be livable anymore."

On Sunday hundreds of people, many wearing face masks, gathered in central Delhi to demand immediate action to curb the pollution levels, currently around 30 times the World Health Organization's recommended PM2.5 safe limit of 25 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

Long queues formed outside shops selling face masks, a relatively novelty in Delhi as are the air purifiers that now feature in the homes of wealthy residents.

The Delhi government on Sunday announced a series of measures including shutting schools for three days, banning all construction work for five days and the temporary closure of a coal-fired power plant.

It also said it was considering cloud-seeding to produce rain. a technique Beijing used to clear the air before the 2008 Olympic Games.

Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, said the city faced an "emergency situation."

"These temporary emergency measures are critical for bringing down the peak pollution levels," she said.

"Of course this cannot be permanent, you cannot keep people indoors forever," she added.

A 2014 World Health Organization survey of more than 1,600 cities ranked Delhi as the most polluted.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he may reintroduce car rationing in the city after a successful two-week trial earlier this year. But the Delhi government is powerless to stop the mass burning of fields in the nearby states. </s> Authorities in Delhi on Monday closed schools, halted construction work and shut down a major power plant after days of choking smog led to warnings of a health “emergency” in the world’s most polluted capital.

Pollution levels have spiked in recent days as farmers in neighbouring Indian states burn crop stubble after the harvest and temperatures cool, trapping pollutants in a smoggy haze over the city.

Delhi’s air quality generally worsens with the onset of autumn, particularly after the Diwali festival when millions of revellers let off heavily polluting firecrackers.

Levels between 301 and 500 are classified as “hazardous”, meaning everyone faces a risk of respiratory effects and should stay indoors, while levels above 500 are beyond the official index.

Manan Mahato, who drives an auto rickshaw in Delhi, said he had sent his children to his native village because he was worried about their health.

“It has become risky to stay in Delhi because of the pollution,” he said, holding a handkerchief over his mouth because he cannot afford a proper face mask.

“I am sending my children back to the village as I am worried for their health. If it stays like this, I think this city won’t be liveable anymore.”

On Sunday hundreds of people, many wearing face masks, gathered in central Delhi to demand immediate action to curb the pollution levels, currently around 30 times the World Health Organization’s recommended PM2.5 safe limit of 25 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

Long queues formed outside shops selling face masks, a relatively novelty in Delhi as are the air purifiers that now feature in the homes of wealthy residents.

The Delhi government on Sunday announced a series of measures including shutting schools for three days, banning all construction work for five days and the temporary closure of a coal-fired power plant.

It also said it was considering cloud-seeding to produce rain, a technique Beijing used to clear the air before the 2008 Olympic Games.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he may reintroduce car rationing in the city after a successful two-week trial earlier this year.

But the Delhi government is powerless to stop the mass burning of fields in the nearby states of Haryana and Punjab.

“We have to save the present generation as well as the future generations from this disaster,” he told AFP.

Sunita Narain, head of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment which has petitioned the Supreme Court to force the government to act, called it a “public health emergency”.

“The situation is very bad. The poisonous air is very harmful for all of us,” she said.

“We hope the court will hear our plea and order the governments to do whatever is required.” The court is due to hear the petition on Tuesday.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan declares a public health emergency for at least the next three days because of high levels of air pollution in the London area. The Department for Environment says this pollution episode could last until at least Sunday.