Hereford’s Air Pollution
Air pollution is a serious problem that poses numerous dangers to human health and the environment. One of the major sources of air pollution is traffic. The exhaust fumes produced by vehicles contain harmful gases and particulate matter that can have a detrimental effect on the health of individuals exposed to them.
Exposure to air pollution from traffic can cause a range of respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. These conditions can be especially dangerous for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems, such as children, elderly individuals, and people with chronic illnesses. Studies have shown that exposure to air pollution from traffic can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions. This is because the particulate matter in vehicle exhaust can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation, leading to the development of plaque in the arteries.
With these issues in mind and the reduced footfall they lead to, Herefordshire County Council has begun an innovative programme of installing “moss filters” to filter the air in their high traffic areas. Following the introduction of the first moss filter in Hereford in the summer, two further moss filters are now being installed in the City.
Moss filters
Moss has the ability to absorb and metabolise fine dust and particles, helping to clean the air. Moss also stores and evaporates large amounts of moisture to cool the air. The new moss filters being installed in Hereford each take up about the same amount of space as one tree, however due to the enormous surface area of moss, a moss filter is more efficient at filtering the air. The council says each moss filter can clean about 80% of fine dust and particles from the air around it.
The moss filters will be located in busy traffic areas in the City where they will use specially selected mosses to help absorb pollution. The first was installed at Eign Gate last June, where it has been working to naturally clean the air around it and provide a pleasant place to sit. The two new filters are currently being fitted outside The Courtyard and in Eign St (by the great western way underpass traffic light junction), where they will also help to clean the City air when the moss is installed and they become operational in a few weeksโ time.
The moss filters contain integrated smart sensors which provide performance and condition information, so the impact on the local air quality will be available to see on the councilโs website www.herefordshire.gov.uk/climate-2/moss-filters.
The three moss filters have been funded jointly by the council and Marches LEP as part of the ongoing ยฃ6m Hereford City Centre Improvement project, which is enhancing the City Centre environment thanks to investment to encourage people to spend more time in the City when they visit, helping to boost the local economy.
Final Thought
The dangers of air pollutions are increasingly being recognised by the general public. While less dramatic and immediate than the dangers of a car accident, the Government estimates that air pollution and associated conditions result in between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths every year in the UK while road accidents in 2021 accounted for only 1608 deaths.
With the rise in online shopping it’s increasingly difficult for cities to maintain their footfall, essential to keeping shops profitable. Solutions such as these will hopefully increase the attraction, not to mention the healthiness of city streets.