The challenge of meeting safe air quality standards in Harrogate is set to get tougher after the World Health Organisation slashed its limits and warned key pollutants are even more dangerous than previously thought.

In its first revision to the standards in 15 years, the WHO on Wednesday released new guidelines which mean the UK’s legal limits for the most harmful pollutants are now four times higher than the maximum levels recommended.

This is after new research found air pollution from areas including vehicle exhausts and gas central heating is having a big impact on health, even at lower concentrations.

While not legally binding, the WHO guidelines are used as reference tools by policymakers around the world and will have an impact on how legal limits are set in the future.

In June, Harrogate Borough Council released its annual air quality report for 2020, which showed all 63 monitoring locations across the district fell below the previous limit of 40 micrograms of annual nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre of air.

But now that the WHO has slashed the limit to 10, just two locations would meet the new guidelines.

Air pollution experts have said reaching these reduced limits would be extremely difficult and not achievable for decades, if at all.

Council 'optimistic' it can still meet targets

Cllr Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability at Harrogate Borough Council, said there are still reasons for optimism that progress can be made in the fight against global warming.

He said: 

The UK government has yet to approve new legal limits on air pollution, with a bill currently being debated in the House of Lords.

Some reductions in the maximum safe levels are expected, but campaigners are urging ministers to act on the WHO advice and take stronger action.

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With pressure to tackle climate change only growing greater, the drive to cut carbon emissions from cars in Harrogate has gathered momentum recently with council officials pushing ahead with sustainable transport measures.

North Yorkshire County Council is behind schemes such as the low traffic neighbourhood on Harrogate's Beech Grove and has more major projects planned, including the £10.9 million Station Gateway project and long-awaited Otley Road cycle path.

There is also talk of introducing a park and ride scheme, which would involve a shuttle bus service from Pannal, but detailed plans have yet to come forward.

Harrogate Borough Council has collaborated on some of these projects and also said it is tackling air quality through its ultra-low emission vehicle strategy and by working with HGV, bus and taxi providers to improve the quality of their fleet.

What do the new WHO guidelines say?

The WHO guidelines have been updated for the first time since 2006 and are in response to evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health.

The guidelines recommend:

• Lowering overall air pollution target levels across the six key air pollutants


• Introducing interim targets to develop pollution reduction policies that are achievable within realistic time frames


• Reducing the annual level of nitrogen dioxide per year from 40 µg/m³ to 10 µg/m³


• Reducing the annual level of Particulate Matter 2.5 per year from 10 µg/m³ to 5 µg/m³


• Reducing the annual level of Particulate Matter 10 per year from 20 µg/m³ to 15 µg/m³

However, the WHO has stressed the new limits should not be considered to be safe, and that there is no level at which pollutants stop causing damage.

The WHO puts air pollution on a par with smoking and unhealthy eating, and has estimated it causes around 7 million deaths each year.