§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effects on(a) public health, (b) asthma sufferers, (c) the elderly and (d) pregnant women, when ground level ozone reaches 90PPB. [26171]
§ Mr. AtkinsWithin Government, the Department of Health takes the lead in assessing the health effects of air pollutants, including advice from its Committee on the Medical Aspects of Air Pollutants. The effects of exposure to ozone depend on the duration of the exposure as well as on the level of the pollutant. The main effects are on the respiratory system and vary considerably from individual to individual. In 1991, the expert advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution episodes published a report on ozone. A copy is in the Library of the House.