Urgent red and purple code alerts issued in 7 UK areas for air toxins – full list

Defra’s UK AIR map showed high or very high air pollution across seven English regions in the past 24 hours, following days of fireworks and Bonfire Night celebrations. The alerts matter because exposure to air pollution can affect health, with both short-term and long-term risks.

Four regions, including London and the South East, were rated very high at 10/10; Yorkshire and the Humber and the East Midlands scored 9/10, and the West Midlands 8/10. The Met Office linked elevated levels to light winds, busy roads, urban areas and persistent fog, and forecast further moderate to high pollution in some places. Scotland, Wales and north-east England had low readings.