# A Comparative Study of SOx, NOx, PM2.5 and PM10 in the UK and Poland from 1970 to 2020
## 6 Summary  
An analysis spanning five decades, from 1970 to 2020, scrutinises the trajectory of air pollutants in the United Kingdom and Poland, highlighting the adverse effects of air pollution and the influencing factors behind these changes. It is imperative to underscore that air pollution constitutes a formidable global health challenge, contributing significantly to respiratory and other diseases and exerting a substantial impact on public health. While natural sources such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires have historically contributed to pollution, the advent of industrialisation and motorisation, powered by fossil fuels, has resulted in the emission of harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, and sulphur and nitrogen oxides. The intricate relationship between air quality, climate, and ecosystem health underscores the dual benefits of addressing air pollution, as actions taken for mitigation contribute to both health and climate amelioration. This comparative study between the UK and Poland reveals stark differences in their energy consumption profiles. The UK's gradual shift away from coal towards cleaner energy sources has led to diminished emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter. In contrast, Poland's heavy reliance on coal for energy generation has resulted in elevated pollution levels, notably in the concentration of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), for which Poland consistently exhibits higher levels than the UK. A thorough examination of the role of regulations and policies in reducing pollution levels highlights the pivotal contribution of stringent regulations, technological advancements, and economic progress. The evidence indicates that transitioning to cleaner energy sources, including the closure of coal-fired power plants, adopting cleaner fuels, and  
Figure 13: European countries with the highest concentration of PM2.5. Graph reproduced based on IQAir report. implementing rigorous regulations to combat air pollution, is instrumental in safeguarding public health and the environment. Conceptualization, S.P. ; Methodology, Z.S.-G. and B.S.-G.; Validation, B.S.-G.; Formal analysis, Z.S.-G. and B.S.-G.; Investigation, Z.S.-G.; Resources, B.S.-G. and S.P. ; Data curation, Z.S.-G. and B.S.-G.; Writing--original draft, Z.S.-G.; Writing--review & editing, B.S.-G. and S.P. ; Visualization, B.S.-G.; Supervision, B.S.-G. and S.P. ; Project administration, S.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This research received no external funding. Not applicable. The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request. These data were derived from the following resources available in the public domain: Annual emissions of SO2 in the UK. [[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c5f51](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c5f51) ccc433b000 ca90b0f/sulphhur_dioxide_key_emission_sources_2022.csv/]([https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c5f51](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c5f51) ccc433b000 ca90b0f/sulphhur_dioxide_key_emission_sources_2022.csv/) (accessed on 1 October 2023). Annual emission of nitrogen oxides in the UK. [[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c5f3](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c5f3) be0c5f70012951 bac/nitrogen_oxides_annual_emissions_2022.csv/review]([https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c5f3](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c5f3) be0c5f70012951 bac/nitrogen_oxides_annual_emissions_2022.csv/review) (accessed on 1 October 2023). Emissions of air pollutants in the UK- Particulate matter (PM10 and PM205).