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The pollution has caused a thick layer of dust to form on cars and buildings, as Pallab Ghosh reports
Government health advice has been issued amid warnings pollution spreading across England will again hit high levels later.
Defra issued warnings as high pollution levels were recorded on Tuesday.
The pollution - a mix of local and European emissions and dust from the Sahara - is forecast in parts of south England, the Midlands and East Anglia.
The elderly and those with lung or heart disease are urged to avoid strenuous exercise outside.
Defra has a 10-point scale for measuring air quality - with 1 meaning there is a "low" risk of air pollution and 10 warning of "very high" levels.
On Wednesday levels were recorded at 6 - meaning moderate - in East Anglia and the South East, with pollution readings reaching level 5 in London and areas of north-east England.
However, forecasters say pollution levels could reach high levels later in the day and on Thursday, before clearing on Friday.
The BBC weather centre said the highest recordings are likely to be in East Anglia and the East Midlands, while moderate to high air pollution levels are also forecast for large parts of southern and central England.
In parts of Wales, areas around Wirral and Merseyside, as well as Devon, levels are likely to be moderate.
HEALTH EFFECTS
- Those with existing lung and heart conditions may find symptoms worsen
- They should avoid doing too much, especially outdoors
- Healthy people may experience minor symptoms such as a sore throat or a tickly cough
- They should avoid strenuous activity in order to reduce such symptoms
It comes as pollution levels hit the maximum of 10 in north-west Norfolk on Tuesday.
Advice on the Defra website states that for high levels of pollution: "Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms.
"People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion."
It adds that "anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors".
Dr Paul Cosford from Public Health England told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that pollution levels were "clearly a serious issue".
However, he said it was "important we don't get it out of proportion".
He said the "vast majority" of people would suffer no harm from the pollution levels, but said people with health issues should take extra care.
Andrew Sibley, specialist forecaster for the Met Office, said: "Conditions are going to get worse again as we go through Wednesday and the rest of the week."
He said that a south-easterly wind would bring with it yet more pollution from Europe, and further compound the situation in the UK.
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BBC Weather's Carol Kirkwood explains the reasons behind the increase in pollution levels
Mr Sibley said that dust and sand particles from the Saharan desert could easily get swept up by high winds and carried thousands of miles across the globe.
"The dust gets caught by rain particles and that's how it ends up being visible on the ground," he said.
Analysis
Air pollution is the world's single biggest environmental health risk, according to the World Health Organization.
It is linked to about seven million deaths a year, mostly from heart and lung diseases.
The causes are outdoor pollution from traffic and industry, and indoor pollution from dirty stoves. But dirty air is an invisible threat, and it's taken a wind from the Sahara to blow it into UK headlines.
The wind lifts desert dust high into the clouds several times a year. The dust provides vital fertiliser for the ocean and even the Amazon forest.
But in the UK it is combining with high levels of local air pollution to irritate people's lungs.
People with heart disease or lung disease or the elderly should take the health warnings seriously.
The episode may draw attention to the government's long-term failure to reduce air pollution.
The EU has launched legal proceedings against the UK for failing to reduce "excessive" levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution - mostly from traffic - after 15 years of warnings.
Follow Roger Harrabin on twitter
A Defra spokeswoman said: "The high level of air pollution this week is due to a combination of local emissions, light winds, pollution from the continent and dust blown over from the Sahara.
"We want to keep improving air quality and have introduced a new five-day forecast service in addition to investing heavily in local and transport initiatives to tackle this issue head-on."
'Understand the risks'The BBC's environment correspondent Roger Harrabin said the episode could bring further attention to the government's long-term struggle to reduce air pollution.
The EU has launched legal proceedings against the UK for failing to reduce "excessive" levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution - mostly from traffic - after 15 years of warnings, he added.
Dr Keith Prowse, honorary medical adviser to the British Lung Foundation, warned higher pollution levels could have a "significant impact" on people with respiratory conditions.
"People who use a reliever inhaler should make sure that they carry it with them. If they feel that their conditions are worsening then they should contact their GPs," he said.
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A Met Office graphic shows how Saharan dust reached the UK
Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said the two-thirds of people with asthma who find that air pollution makes their condition worse "will be at an increased risk of an attack".
Meanwhile, Maria Arnold, from the environmental law group Client Earth, called for changes to the way pollution warnings are given, saying the public is "generally very poorly warned about these type of events".
"We think the [warning] format needs to become very similar to the warnings for floods and heat waves. It is really important people understand the risks."
Have you experienced the effects of air pollution? Have you seen evidence of Saharan dust and sand particles where you live? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'pollution' in the subject.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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