London’s nine million inhabitants have been urged to avoid unnecessary car journeys to combat the “toxic air” circulating in the city as part of the first major warning over pollution in two years.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of the UK capital, issued the alert, asking Londoners to walk, cycle or use public transport rather than use private vehicles. Drivers should also refrain from idling with their engines on and people should not burn wood or garden waste, he said.
“Toxic air is dangerous, particularly for those with heart and lung problems,” Mr Khan tweeted.
“A high pollution episode is forecast from now to Thursday. Please look after each other by walking, cycling, avoiding unnecessary car trips, stopping engine idling and not burning wood or garden waste.”
The alert issued on Tuesday is set to expire on Thursday. It was triggered by an Imperial College London forecast that imported pollution will add to a build-up of domestic emissions, Mr Khan’s office said in a statement.
Pollution remains a grave problem in the city and poor air quality is associated with 4,000 premature deaths a year, according to city officials.
According to the World Air Quality Index Project, central London on Thursday afternoon recorded a reading of 149, which is "unhealthy for sensitive groups".
London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone, which covers areas within the North and South Circular Roads, was introduced to lower the capital’s pollution rates. It requires the drivers of vehicles which do not meet ULEZ emissions standards to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive inside the zone.
The zone will next year be expanded to cover an area of more than 600 square miles.
London’s measured levels of PM2.5, an air pollutant that is a concern for people’s health when levels are high, stands at more than eight times above guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation, according to IQAir, a Swiss company that makes air quality monitors and air purification technologies.
Hundreds of millions of people globally are being affected by dirty air that far exceeds health standards, the firm said in a report published on Tuesday.
A report by Inrix, a US-based analytics company, last year named London as the world’s most congested city.
Mr Khan has previously said people living in London face a crisis of “filthy air and gridlocked roads” unless the use of cars is reduced.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Trippier bio
Date of birth September 19, 1990
Place of birth Bury, United Kingdom
Age 26
Height 1.74 metres
Nationality England
Position Right-back
Foot Right
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
