Just recently in the Star, an article about ' deadly levels of pollution ' in Sheffield recently. In Tinsley the level of [ I think nitrogen ] was 8 times the government's recommended level. This was all put down to the mild weather or something similar.

If there is another reason, apart from natural causes, for this sudden increase, I'm sure the militant anti-smokers will any time soon, be organising a march to protest about it. Even if it IS only due to the weather, I'm sure those people will be staying indoors and closing all the windows. After all, what's a bit of passive smoke compared to a city being beset by noxious gases and such ?

If I was a ' hand-wafter ', I'd be worried about Sheffield and consider moving to California. There, I think all smoking is almost illegal. However, Los Angeles DOES have a serious smog problem, so, maybe the Antarctic is the only answer ?

It will be Nitrogen Oxides, probably from the M1 and other major roads, held down by the current weather - there's a thread elsewhere about how we're currently experiencing a temperature inversion which, along with the still air, stops the pollution dissipating.