Epping Forest Green Party have reacted with concern after the British Heart Foundation listed the district as one the top 50 most polluted places in the UK.
Levels of the particulate matter (PM) which are the tiny solid or liquid particles found within the air, measure at 10.35 ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter of air) within the district.
This is higher than the World Health Organisations recommended limit of 10 ug/m3, and second highest only to neighbouring Essex town Thurrock.
Polluted air can be caused by domestic wood burning and cars, particularly diesel exhaust fumes and is causes around 36,000 deaths in the UK.
High volumes of air pollution can cause damage your blood vessels, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart failure, heart attacks and even strokes.
Councillor Simon Heap, deputy leader of the Green Group on Epping Forest District Council, said: “ This is of course concerning, and I would imagine the level is even higher in places like Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Chigwell and Waltham Abbey which are closer to London.
"Epping Forest do not monitor it at all citing the expense of the equipment but this is to ignore the health of the population.
"Proper monitoring gets proper data and that data should aid in deciding future modes of transport."
Visit www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/air-pollution for more information.
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