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The unusual weather patterns that made this March one of the driest on record also caused prolonged pollution problems. Frequent easterly winds brought air across some of the most industrial and urbanised areas of northern Europe before circulating it over the UK, northern France and the Low Countries. Gaseous pollution from European and UK agriculture, transport, homes and industry reacted to form airborne particulates.
These mainly affected south-east England, but occasionally spread into the rest of the UK. The greatest concentrations were measured around the last weekend of March in London, where they reached their highest levels for four years (excluding Bonfire Nights).
The same concentrations also affected Plymouth and Port Talbot. The regional air pollution during March caused difficulties for management in cities because it left less capacity for local traffic emissions before pollution limits are breached. The combination of regional air pollution and local traffic meant that air pollution at Marylebone Road in London breached national objectives for 15 days in March, the worst since 2004.
The effects can be seen in health statistics. A recent report by the committee on the medical effects of air pollution estimates that long-term exposure to particulate air pollution shortens the lives of UK residents by six months on average, which was equivalent to around 29,000 deaths in 2008.
