Penrith often seen as a picturesque market town, nestled amidst the scenic landscapes of Cumbria.
But government data has revealed a hidden menace looms in the air over Penrith – Arsenic.
Our investigative team has delved deep into the emissions data from the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, and the results are nothing short of shocking. Penrith, which typically conjures images of pristine natural beauty, is now under scrutiny for having high levels of atmospheric arsenic pollution.
Arsenic, a toxic element notorious for its severe health consequences, is saturating the air in Penrith at levels far exceeding those in the surrounding countryside. Arsenic exposure has been linked to a range of chronic health issues, including respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
Some of the health impacts attributed by the World Health Organisation to atmospheric pollution of Arsenic are:
1. Respiratory Distress: Chronic exposure to arsenic in the air can irritate the respiratory system, leading to conditions such as laryngitis, bronchitis, and rhinitis. The people of Penrith are unwittingly breathing in this hazardous substance with every breath they take.
2. Cardiovascular Concerns: Studies have linked arsenic exposure to vascular disease and hypertension. This means that Penrith residents might be facing increased risks of heart-related illnesses due to their polluted air.
3. Carcinogenic Risk: Perhaps the most alarming revelation is that arsenic is a known human carcinogen. Inhalation of airborne arsenic has been associated with an elevated risk of lung cancer, making this a critical health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has refrained from recommending any safe levels of arsenic inhalation, underscoring the severity of the issue.
Penrith's reputation as a town known for its rural natural beauty at the gateway to the north lakes now faces a serious challenge due to the presence of high levels of arsenic pollution in the air many will until today have been unaware of.
The Environment Agency and the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory have been asked to provide comment and details about the source of the high levels of atmospheric Arsenic across Penrith that the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory say are at the highest red levels.
We will bring you further details on this and the other hidden pollution in the air across Penrith as our investigation uncovers the potential sources and what can be done to mitigate the pollution.
Keep updated on the situation in Penrith regarding arsenic and other environmental pollutants in the air across Penrith as part of out new environmental feature.
Data source of the information used by our team investigating the hidden pollution across Penrith was provide under Open Government licence.
Using the data requires that we provide the following attribution of the data source. © Crown 2023 copyright Defra & BEIS via naei.beis.gov.uk, licenced under the Open Government Licence (OGL).
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