0 London is urged to issue smog alert as weather gets warmer

Boris Johnson today faced calls to issue a smog alert for central London.

Green Party mayoral candidate Jenny Jones said Londoners should be made aware of a poor air quality "episode" that is set to worsen with the sunny weather.

Dim outlook: how air pollution over the City can cloud view of landmarks

In a letter to the Mayor, she said he had a duty to help protect the health of vulnerable Londoners and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who will descend on the capital for the royal wedding weekend unaware of the danger to their health.

London is expected to breach its European air quality limits within the next 24 hours. A site in Marylebone Road has tipped the capital over the maximum number of breaches allowed.

Ms Jones said: "London is currently experiencing an air pollution episode and this is likely to carry on through the next week.

"The Government have issued smog alerts on occasions and I feel that the Mayor should step forward to help protect the health of vulnerable Londoners and those visiting the capital. He should be making people aware of what they are breathing in and the risks to their health.

"It is important information for people to know if they suffer from a pre-existing respiratory problem."

She added: "We have the prospect of hundreds of thousands of visitors flocking to central London to stand around all day for the royal wedding, in one of the most polluted cities in Europe."

The Greens urged Mr Johnson to advertise the Airtext service which predicts air pollution.

During previous high pollution levels the Environment Department has issued smog alerts for vulnerable people.

The Mayor's own health impact study estimated up to 4,267 deaths in London in 2008 were attributable to long-term air pollution.

Cher Piddock, the Asthma UK Adviceline nurse, said: "High levels of pollution have been linked to an increased risk of asthma attacks, so people who have pollution as a trigger should avoid going out if air quality is poor, and always carry their inhaler. They should also keep windows shut whenever possible."

A spokeswoman for the Mayor said: "Information on air pollution is widely available, including in most daily newspapers such as the Evening Standard. In addition we encourage Londoners to sign up to the excellent airText service (http://www.airtext.info/) which provides free text, e-mail or voicemail alerts of elevated levels of pollution."

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/evening standard