Glasgow did not surpass legal limits of air pollution for the first time last year. 

The first national coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, saw a massive drop in car use and thereby pollution levels. 

Friends of the Earth Scotland revealed the stay at home guidance saw steep drops in pollution. 

Nitrogen dioxide levels in Hope Street fell from an average of 55.7 microgrammes per cubic metre in 2019 to 35.9 in 2020.

The campaign group said the drop demonstrates a clear link between car journeys and air quality, but warned the drop was short-lived. 

As coronavirus restrictions were eased, pollution returned to the pre-pandemic levels but the drop in Spring brought down the annual average.

READ MORE: Glasgow's 'abandoned schools' feature in new Urbandoned YouTube video

Air pollution campaigner for the group Gavin Thomson said: "It’s a huge pity that it took a deadly pandemic to bring our air quality within legal limits.

"Glasgow’s car-dominated transport system was brought to a halt in Spring, and this is why our annual averages of pollution are much lower than previous years.

"Any improvements in air quality in Glasgow have been short-lived with traffic quickly returning to pre-pandemic levels."

In December, the Scottish Government committed to reducing the number of kilometres driven per year by 20% by 2030.

Official air pollution data for 2020 was analysed, looking at two toxic pollutants which are primarily produced by transport.

Legal air quality standards, which came into force in 2010 and have been breached every year, have now been met for the first time in Scotland.

Glasgow's worst streets for nitrogen dioxide are:

  • Glasgow Hope Street 35.87
  • Glasgow Dumbarton Road 25.29
  • Glasgow Byres Road 22.084
  • Glasgow High Street 20.664
  • Glasgow Great Western Road 19.016
  • Glasgow Townhead 17.118

Glasgow's worst streets for fine particles are:

  • Glasgow Byres Road 10.84
  • Glasgow Dumbarton Road 10.23
  • Glasgow Broomhill 9.60
  • Glasgow High Street 9.32
  • Glasgow Anderston 9.02
  • Glasgow Townhead 8.82
  • Glasgow Waulkmillglen Reservoir 6.95

Gavin Thomson added: “We need to remember that pollution damages our health through long-term exposure, such as living near a main road throughout your childhood.

"So, the reduced pollution for a couple of months during the strictest lockdown is unlikely to have many long-term health benefits.

“The health links between air pollution and Covid-19 should push us to redouble our efforts to clean up our air and protect public health.

"The forthcoming Low Emission Zone should help us improve air quality permanently but lengthy delays, even before Covid, has forced people in Glasgow to keep breathing polluted air.

"The increase in cycling we witnessed in 2020 gives us a chance to think more positively about Glasgow’s transport future differently."