Commenting on Monday's fire in east London, the British Lung Foundation said:
“It’s not clear what the smoke fumes or particles from the East London fire contain, so it’s too early to speculate about the impact on local air pollution or on the lungs of people in the area,” says Dr Keith Prowse, Chairman of the British Lung Foundation.
“We would, however, advise anyone in the area who has a respiratory condition to stay indoors as the smoke could cause them problems. Weather conditions are clear so it’s to be hoped that the smoke will disperse high into the atmosphere and not prove to be a health hazard.
"It will be important to rule out the presence of materials such as polystyrene, which produces dense, black smoke harmful to the lungs. Firefighters should make sure they have suitable protective equipment but people in the area are unlikely to experience the type of heavy, prolonged exposure that could cause them damage.”
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