London is famous for its numerous parks and gardens, but even those green spaces aren’t safe from pollution.

The air in many city parks surpass legal limits for nitrogen oxide set by the European Union, according to data websiteAsiopendata.com. The pollutant is largely from vehicle exhaust.

The finding’s support Mayor Sadiq Khan’s effort to keep the issue at the top of the political agenda as officials in the central government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs have sought to slow the pace of implementing EU pollution limits. The government has said it’s unable to meet 2010 rules until at least 2025.

“It’s shocking to learn that even in London’s supposedly green spaces, the air we breathe is unsafe,” said Sophie Neuburg, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth. “No-one suspects that when they have a summer picnic, they are actually breathing in fumes which are linked to heart disease and cancer.”

The issue is the most serious in central London, the website’s map showed, even in larger green areas such as Hyde Park, Green Park and Regent’s Park. High concentrations of nitrogen oxide also extend to an area bordered by Holloway to the north, Brixton in the south, Shepherd’s Bush westward and Blackwall to the east.

David Fuller's view

Nitrogen oxide surged in the UK when poor research persuaded the government that diesel was a green fuel.  Numerous people switched to diesel vehicles because the fuel was cheaper over long distances and supposedly helped the environment.  In recent years we have learned that diesel poses a serious health hazard which will persist until the government reduces the supply of dies el vehicles on the road. 

I have certainly been affected by diesel and notice the improvement in my throat, lungs and ability to sleep comfortably when I head to Devon.  I worry far more about our grandchildren in London. 

The pollution problem can be considerably reduced at home or in an office with an air purifier.  I purchased a Dyson’s Pure Cool Link Purifying Desk Fan recently and leave it on most of the time.  It is too big to use on a desk so I keep it on the floor, mostly in our main bedroom at night and in the drawing room during the day.  However, it obviously cannot help when one steps outside. 

  See also this informative item from Wikipedia: Diesel exhaust.