The M.E.N can today reveal for the first time the true extent of Greater Manchester's lethal pollution crisis – and now you can see if you are living on one of the 152 deadliest roads.

This new map shows in red all the areas of Greater Manchester where nitrogen dioxide, mainly caused by vehicle fumes, is at illegal levels.

In orange are the stretches of road that are on the cusp of breaching them.

Nitrogen dioxide is one of a raft of air pollutants considered 'silent killers', linked to 1,200 deaths a year in Greater Manchester.

SEE THE FULL LIST BELOW

Out of more than 150 roads with illegally high levels of the gas, many are lined with homes, schools and hospitals and are in the most deprived areas of the conurbation.

They are featured in a new report revealing pollution levels are far higher and widespread than initially thought. A previous government estimate identified just 12 problem areas, but the research by Transport for Greater Manchester now shows the crisis to be more than 10 times as great.

The Greater Manchester Clean Air Map

The region is one of the worst places in the country to live when it comes to clean air.

Councillor Alex Ganotis, the town hall chief in charge of air quality for the region, has labelled pollution an 'invisible killer'.

He added: "It's not like in the 1950s when we had smog. You could see the issue there."

And, leaders admit, it makes the introduction of 'wide-ranging' charges on drivers of high-polluting vehicles, including diesel cars, HGVs and most of our buses more likely.

Carried out locally by transport and council leaders, the map-modelling looking at levels of nitrogen dioxide - produced mostly by diesel vehicles - is more sophisticated than previous studies and includes factors like Manchester's tall buildings which 'lock in' poisonous gases, and the wind direction, which blows pollution to the north and east of the region.

(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

It does not include motorways like the M60, which are outside the councils' jurisdiction.

Along with particulates – also coughed up in noxious exhaust fumes – nitrogen dioxide is a major cause of bronchitis, asthma, heart problems and cancer. Children and older people are particularly susceptible.

The analysis will be considered by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday so leaders can continue with a Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan, aiming to meet targets by 2021.

Options on the table still include introducing Clean Air Zones where drivers of the most polluting vehicles could be charged. A final decision on this is yet to be made and mayor Andy Burnham has promised in the past not to charge individual motorists.

But as the true extent of the problem emerges through the smog, it may be the only option radical enough to make a difference.

Cities including Birmingham and Leeds – where pollution levels are not as bad as Greater Manchester's – are already progressing their clean air zones - roads where certain drivers have to pay to enter.

In initial draft plans for Greater Manchester, diesel cars from 2015 onwards would not be penalised, nor would petrol cars from 2005.

But during a briefing on the report, Councillor Alex Ganotis, Greater Manchester Green City Lead, warned any charging zones would have to be 'wide-ranging' to avoid the problem 'moving to other areas'.

Simon Warburton, TfGM strategy director, said: “There are fundamental differences between a clean air zone and congestion charging. Congestion charging is about applying charges to all vehicles, it's about achieving a certain amount of switch but also revenue.

“That is not what we have been asked to look at here. This is about penalties with the goal about reducing the number of polluting vehicles as quickly as possible. Success is not having any vehicles to charge.”

Other measures include upgrading buses to a higher engine standard, boosting public transport on the worst-affected routes, increasing parking charges in the worst areas, providing more electric vehicle charging points, getting more people to walk and cycle and changing signals to boost traffic flows.

Greater Manchester’s preferred package of measures is required by Government to tackle the problem at least as quickly as a charge-based Clean Air Zone could, for the same or lower cost.

Transport for Greater Manchester and AGMA have emphasised that no decision has yet been made. A further report on options for reducing NO levels across Greater Manchester will be considered by Greater Manchester councils and the GMCA in the next couple of months.

Leaders are also demanding that the Government takes action to allow them to tackle the problem effectively.

They say the Government needs to:

Introduce a scrappage scheme for diesel drivers so motorists aren't penalised.

Finance the replacement of high-polluting buses. This could amount to £140m to fund upgrades for 70 per cent of the 2000-strong fleet.

Give clarity on what it's expecting from Highways England to address motorway pollution – with the M60 five miles from most Greater Manchester hotspots.

Support technology needed to tackle pollution.

Eleanor Roaf, Greater Manchester’s lead Director of Public Health for air quality, said they were considering introducing an alert system to warn, for example, asthma sufferers when it could be dangerous to exercise outside.

She added: “But we shouldn't be putting up with dirty air to breathe. It's the long-term consequence and it's the fact you can't see it. For some people it will have an immediate impact, for a lot of other people it will have an insidious long-term effect.

“You don't have a choice about whether or not you breathe. But you wouldn't drink dirty water, so you shouldn't have to breathe dirty air.

“Polluted air increases the chance of hospital admissions and trips to A&E. It’s harming our health and is linked to increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer.

“That’s why urgent steps need to be taken to ensure this issue is tackled as quickly as possible.”

Mr Ganotis added: “We mustn’t lose sight of the fact this is a looming public health crisis which needs urgent national action.

We’re calling on Government to give Greater Manchester the tools we need to tackle the problem together – this means a local vehicle scrappage scheme and funding for cleaner engines for buses and taxis.

“I want to be clear that a congestion charge is not being considered as part of this process. But we do have to consider how we ensure that dirty vehicles are not polluting our air. This is a major public health problem for Greater Manchester.”

Leaders are this week launching a campaign to encourage residents to understand and debate the issues around pollution. This includes a new website www.CleanAirGM.com.

They are also in talks with bus companies on the introduction of a greener fleet.

In Greater Manchester, road transport contributes 80 per cent of emissions of nitrogen oxides and 81 per cent of particulates.

It also accounts for 32pc of carbon dioxide emissions.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said: “Tackling air pollution requires collective action, which is why we are working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to improve local air quality and look forward to receiving proposals by the end of the year. “

Over the last two years, government support for Greater Manchester has included £250m for cleaner better transport, helping to reduce harmful emissions and improve the quality of the air we breathe.”

The full list of the worst roads

Bolton

Bradshawgate

Manchester Road

Bradford Street

Trinity Street

Bolton Road

Kay Street

St Peter's Way

St George's Road

Topp Way

Deane Road

Bury

Haymarket Street

Bury New Road

Peel Way

Angouleme Way

Bolton Street

Rochdale Road

Water Street

Crostons Road

Wash Lane

Moorgate

Manchester

Auburn Street

Charlotte Street

Gartside Street

Great Bridgewater Street

Greenwood Road

Hollyhedge Road

King Street

Outwood Lane

Parker Street

Ringway Road West

Thorley Lane

Withy Grove

York Street

Bridge Street

John Dalton Street

Oxford Road

Oxford Street

Princess Street

Quay Street

Upper Brook Street

Portland Street

Princess Road

Chester Road

Deansgate

Great Ducie Street

Victoria Bridge Street

Altrincham Road

Hyde Road

Regent Road

Mancunian Way

Ardwick Green South

Church Street

Dale Street

Downing Street

Stockport Road

Whitworth Street

Corporation Street

New Bridge Street

Liverpool Road

Great Ancoats Street

Lever Street

Ashton Old Road

Fairfield Street

Nicholas Croft

Rochdale Road

Shudehill

Cheetham Hill Road

Great Ancoats Street

Swan Street

Oxford Road

Greengate

Oldham

Waterloo Street

Hollins Road

Hollinwood Avenue

Bottom O' Th' Moor

Manchester Road

Oldham Way

Broadway

Shaw Road

Greengate

Rochdale

Manchester Road

St Mary's Gate

Heywood Old Road

Edinburgh Way

Whitworth Road

Spotland Road

Salford

Nansen Avenue

Wellington Road

Trinity Way

Albion Way

Langworthy Road

Victoria Bridge Street

Liverpool Road

Regent Road

Worsley Brow

Broughton Road

East Lancashire Road

Broad Street

Chapel Street

Crescent

Trinity Way

Weaste Road

Parrin Lane

Stockport

Chestergate

Corporation Street

Kingsway

Didsbury Road

Travis Brow

Ashton Road

Great Egerton Street

Knightsbridge

Stockport Road West

Buxton Road

London Road

Wellington Road North

Ashton Road

Hall Street

Spring Gardens

St Marys Way

Tiviot Way

Carrington Road

New Bridge Lane

Lancashire Hill

Tameside

Fleet Street

Margaret Street

Manchester Road

Manchester Road North

Manchester Road South

Stockport Road

William Street

Lord Sheldon Way

Clark Way

Park Parade

Stamford Square

Stamford Street

Trafford

Iona Way

Moss Vale Road

Park Way

Barton Road

Chester Road

Cross Street

Trafford Boulevard

King Street West

Central Park Way

Warrington Road

Darlington Street