The impact of air pollution on human health was highlighted at a parliamentary reception attended by Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond this week.
The event, hosted by the British Lung Foundation, heard first-hand about the devastating impact of air pollution to human health.
According to annual Public Health England figures, 53 deaths in East Hampshire, which is part of the Meon Valley, were attributed to air pollution but many others have their lives negatively impacted by it each day.
Flick would like the government to look at making a legally binding commitment and meet World Health Organization (WHO) guideline levels for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 2030, at the latest.
Fine particulate matter - mainly from road traffic - is more than 30 times smaller than a human hair and can penetrate deep into the lungs, where it has the potential to enter the bloodstream.
The present Environment Bill allows the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to wait until 2022 to set targets - meaning people will have to wait longer for any significant improvements.
“The Environment Bill is a far-reaching piece of legislation I very much support and it's focused on protecting our wildlife and countryside and improving air and water quality among many other things,” said Flick.
“As it makes its way through parliament, it will be debated and amended and I hope ministers look closely at moving towards these WHO guidelines.”
