Illegal levels of air pollution have been detected at the site of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

On Tuesday 11th February, Breathe GB released a study of air pollution levels and found that Perry Park has significantly high levels of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and illegal levels of nitrous oxide (NO2). 

Perry Park is home to Birmingham BMX Race Track and Alexander Stadium, which will be used for the Commonwealth Games 2020’s opening and closing ceremonies.

These findings were part of the Breathe GB campaign which aims to reduce air pollution in areas where children and young adults train for sport. In collaboration with EarthSense, their study analysed the air at 94 sporting sites across the UK. Although the UK follows EU guidelines for particulate matter, the report used guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which are stricter than the EU.

Out of the 21 locations analysed in Birmingham, 20 were rated 9 out of 11 for PM2.5 limit (with 11 exceeding WHO guidelines). Out of these, Perry Park had 40+ levels of NO2, which is illegal.

Following these figures, the Breathe GB Campaign are calling ‘for the government to adopt WHO-recommended levels of NO2 and PM2.5 as a minimum by 2030.’

Air pollution has damaging effects, particularly on young people training for sports. Studies show that children exposed to roadside air pollution can have their lung growth stunted by 14%. Also, particulate pollution can lead to cardiovascular disease. Recently, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) urged the government to work faster in tackling air pollution and recommending that WHO guidelines are followed.

In response to Birmingham Mail, Cllr Waseem Zaffar stated: ‘this is exactly why we are taking responsibility for the situation by creating a Climate Change Taskforce.’ He pointed to schemes such as the Clean Air Zone, urging that the council is committed to improving the levels of air pollution before the Commonwealth Games.