Action is needed to tackle the high levels of toxic PM10 particles polluting our air, according to a new study.

Localised monitoring has shown some areas across the UK have extremely high levels of pollutants. GMB, the UK-wide general union, published a study yesterday on the mean average level of PM10 pollutants in the air measured so far for 2014 at 58 monitoring stations across the UK.

PM10s are noxious particles, which irritate the airways and find their way deep down into the lungs causing breathing difficulties – even in healthy people.

Workers who work on the roadside, such as street cleaners, refuse workers, parking staff and others, are particularly exposed. GMB is calling for more localised monitoring and for action to further reduce exposures.

The EU sets PM10 levels at 40µg/m3 on average over a year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the guidelines much lower, at 20µg/m3.

The report found London Marylebone and Port Talbot Margam to have the highest levels of PM10, reaching 29µg/m3. There were 20 other areas to reach pollutant levels above the WHO line, including London Bloomsbury, Eastbourne, Glasgow, Leeds, and Portsmouth.

‘This study shows that there are high levels of PM10s in areas across the UK. Clean air should be a right, not a privilege,’ said John McClean, GMB national health, safety and environment officer.

Exposure to air pollution is attributed to thousands of deaths and new cases of asthma and bronchitis a year. WHO states that there are no safe limits for these particles.

GMB is calling on the government to ban high polluting vehicles from city centres and for force diesel vehicle manufacturers to fit particulate filters to their vehicles. The union says the belief that diesel cars are better for the environment has to be challenged, with diesel cars emitting 22 times more PM10s than petrol cars do.

The union is calling for councils to make improvements in cycling facilities and for employers to pay cycle allowances and other incentives to discourage car use.