Residents in the Braintree district are exposed to levels above the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), figures reveal.

Health campaigners say "toxic" air quality in the UK is a national emergency and the Government must impose stricter limits on fine particles in the air (PM2.5), which come mainly from the burning of oil, gas and diesel.

Figures from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs show the average concentration of PM2.5 pollution particles in Braintree was 10.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2019 – below the UK limit of 25, but above the WHO guideline limit of 10.

That was at the same level as a year ago.

Separate figures published by the NHS show an estimated 5.4 per cent of deaths among people aged 30 and over in Braintree were associated with long-term exposure to PM2.5, down from 5.5 per cent the year before.

The British Heart Foundation, which is campaigning for stricter limits on PM2.5 as part of the Government's Environment Bill which returns to Parliament this year, says the country faces “a public health emergency”

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John Maingay, director of policy and influencing at the charity, said: "Our toxic air is a public health emergency, and now is the time to take robust action to support everyone’s health as we look to recover from the pandemic.

"We are pleased that the Environment Bill, which will set more stringent air quality limits, will soon be returning to complete its passage through Parliament.

"However, this must go further and ensure WHO limits are adopted into law, and met by 2030.

“Stricter, health-based air quality guidelines are urgently needed to protect the health of the nation and clean up toxic air for good.”

Across the East of England, the level of PM2.5 was at 10.3 in 2019, and 10.2 in 2018.

PM2.5 are tiny particles which can lodge in the lungs and even pass into bloodstream, potentially causing damage to blood vessels and organs.

They come mostly from traffic fumes, but also through industrial emissions, wood burners and livestock manure.

A small proportion come from natural sources in the form of dust or sea salt particles.