If a party would be willing to do something about the pollution, then that would be a good thing. Being near the docks is possibly a contributory factor to the fact that people in Dover live 7 years less than those in River as Dover suffers the highest level of Sulphur Dioxide in the county. September 2010 clean air report states that the number of 15-minute readings >266 µgm-3 in Dover is 12 (the closest next reading is 1). 35 excess readings are allowed per year, yet at this level, Dover sees 144, so over 4 times higher exposure. Sulphur dioxide is associated to heart disease and bronchitis.
Particulate matter (eg, airborne soot): Days with 24-hour means >50 µgm-3 (35 allowed per year) - Dover records 10 in September, so the annual extrapolation is 120, being over 3 times higher than recommended.
These figures are at
www.kentair.org.uk. And I would just like to say, it would be good to have a politician in office who actually does something about the reports that the Government commission and we pay for. What is the point of gathering data to do bugger all with it? I tried to obtain more data on this in 2008, to find out what was being done, only to hit a brick wall. Tell me a politician who acts rather than talks, and who is in office for the reasons of benefiting the planet and the people rather than lining their pockets and he/she would get my vote any day!
