Sahara dust blankets parts of Britain

Published April 11, 2015
London: The city’s financial district is seen from Primrose Hill as high air pollution obscures the skyline on Friday. According to weather reports, south-eastern England reached the highest level of air pollution on Friday.—Reuters
London: The city’s financial district is seen from Primrose Hill as high air pollution obscures the skyline on Friday. According to weather reports, south-eastern England reached the highest level of air pollution on Friday.—Reuters

LONDON: Traffic fumes, dirty air blown in from Europe and Sarahan dust are combining to coat parts of Britain in smog.

The environment department says air pollution is “high” across much of the country on Friday and could reach the top designation of “very high” in southeast England.

Officials say people with heart and lung problems or asthma should avoid exertion.

In London, haze clouded the view of landmarks including Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament from atop the Shard, Britain’s tallest building.

Steven Godby, a geographer at Nottingham Trent University, said a contributing factor was North African dust that was “incorporated into a northerly airflow and can travel long distances before being deposited as far away as the UK”.

Officials say fresher air from the Atlantic should ease pollution Saturday.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2015

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