Sir, The air pollution figures for streets in central Dundee (Courier, February 4), are indeed alarming but these don’t give the full picture.
They are daily averages for air pollution, which balance out rush hour peaks with moderate levels and very low night levels. So the pollution inhaled by the large numbers of commuters is far higher than the statistics suggest.This is clear from the details on the Government’s air quality monitoring website (scottishairquality.co.uk/). The graphs for each site show the latest readings for nitrogen dioxide and PM10 (tiny particles, mostly produced by diesel engines). The daily fluctuations are clearly enormous.So at Seagate on Saturday and Sunday, February 2 and 3, the level of PM10 went up to around 50 ugm (micrograms) per cubic metre (compared with the daily average of 14.2), whilst on Saturday and Monday the level of NO2 went up to around 160 ugm (the daily average is 50.4).Look at the 30-day graph and it’s even worse, with PM10 reaching about 95 ugm on 17 January. This compares with the air pollution safety limit for PM10 of 18 ugm, and for NO2 40 ugm.Sorry for all the statistics, but the basic fact is that the concentrations of these pollutants during the busiest times of the day, when the largest number of people are exposed to the air in the streets, is frequently around three or four times the Government’s target for average levels.And, of course, if the biomass plant goes ahead, it will add to this air pollution, particularly particulates!It’s all very well for the council to be monitoring the situation closely, but “taking it seriously” means trying to do something to reduce these dangerously high levels.Andrew Llanwarne.Co-ordinator, Friends of the Earth Tayside.Residents were not in bedSir, For the past several years I have cared for my dear wife, as the debilitating condition of dementia gradually overwhelmed her.During this time I’ve become deeply indebted to the many local organisations in Dundee who have given me wonderful support. These include our doctors at the Nethergate Medical Centre, the Dundee Psychiatric Medical Staff, the Fiveways Day Centre, the Social Services Care Workers and the staff at Dundee Carers Centre.Eventually, some two months ago, I was advised that my wife’s medical condition dictated that she now required full-time care in a specialist residential nursing home and that Tullideph Care Home had been identified as being an ideal choice.Naturally I was apprehensive as to how my wife would adapt to this major change. However, some two months later, she has settled in beautifully.This is due entirely to the outstanding care and attention she has received from Jasmine James, the manager, and her dedicated staff. I learned subsequently that Jasmine has been there for just one year, during which time the reputation of the home has been transformed.Last Friday, February 1, an article appeared in The Courier, describing an incident involving an extractor fan in the care home. This had required the attendance of the fire brigade. By the time they arrived, the evacuation procedures at the home had ensured that the residents had been guided to safety.However one aspect of the article astonished me. It stated: “Tullideph’s residents suffer from dementia and most of the people were in their beds at the time of the outbreak which happened just after 5pm.”Now I know that far from being in their beds, this is the time when the residents have their evening meal. To be certain, I checked my facts and found that this was indeed the case.Clearly this misinformation could do great harm to the reputation of the home, as evidenced by the critical comments which appeared on The Courier’s own web page, made by people who had read the article.I am sure it was completely unintentional on The Courier’s part to cause all this distress to innocent care workers. Therefore I trust you will publish this letter, thereby allowing the true facts to be presented to their readers.Professor EmeritusJames A Cairns.375 Blackness Road,Dundee.Helping out is fine, but . . .Sir, I heard politicians and bankers on television advising would-be property purchasers to go to the “Bank of Mum and Dad” (or Gran and Grandad) to secure a deposit. I feel there is unfair pressure being put on a generation who are retired or just about to retire.Surely you don’t work from the age of 15 until you are 65 just to become involved in mortgages at that stage of your life.I feel that is too much to ask, although some of the younger generation are not at all shy about asking. Helping out where you can is fine but there have to be limits.Tom Macfarlane.10 Bridgend Court,Main Street,Perth.What about our friends?Sir, Why is David Cameron visiting countries such as Libya, Mali, and Algeria, where there is nothing for us except military intervention or the expense of more foreign aid? Would he not be better to visit Commonwealth countries such as Australia and Canada, who are our friends, and with whom we can have beneficial economic relationships?In particular, why was he in Afghanistan when Australia was being ravaged by forest fires? Has the man no sense at all?Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.