Vast decrease in air quality

[Amoeba]

Has anybody here noticed the massive drop in air quality over these past few months? What's causing it? There's a permanent brown cloud over Edinburgh right now, can be seen best in sunlight and clear skies. It used to only be visible in the middle of summer, but it's been all year the past year.

I don't know if there's any real way to measure this, so I'm not sure if I'm just imagining things or if I'm just getting unwell or something... but has anyone else noticed the stink too? It smells like... I dunno, a choking dirty smell wherever you go, are there more cars on the road or what? Or maybe it's just because more people are made to smoke outside?

I'm getting concerned, for my health and the health of those around me. It feels more difficult to breathe, especially while running. I've been running for a few years now and it seems to have become more difficult to do so just recently. I've also developed a nasty cough. But other people around me seem unaffected so I'm not sure...

[badgerwatcher]

That sounds very worrying, Amoeba. Have you contacted any environment agencies?
Round here the air is very good, noticable by magnificent grey lichens in trees all around.
I don't know if there's a pollution monitoring website any more. There used to be.

[Amoeba]

We get flat crusty lichens and occasionally leafy lichens, so that's one reason why I wasn't sure if it was just me imagining things. My boyfriend thinks I'm right though, so he must notice something too.

I have no clue about environmental agencies. I'll go google it and see what it is.

I'm seriously considering buying a gas mask for whenever I have to walk to college. See if it makes any difference?

[badgerwatcher]

Are you in a valley?

[snowdrop]

On return last year from a coach trip to the Cotswolds I was surprised to find not only could I detect a stench rising rfrom my home city but it lay under a blue haze too.

[thunder]

When I lived in Edinburgh (many years ago) the brown haze was quite common if the weather conditions were right (or wrong, I suppose). Perhaps more people are burning solid fuel again?

henrya

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by thunder

When I lived in Edinburgh (many years ago) the brown haze was quite common if the weather conditions were right (or wrong, I suppose). Perhaps more people are burning solid fuel again?

Don't they just burn peat in their black houses North of the border?
;^)

Jim