Pollutionwatch: December 2006

Wet and windy weather kept pollution levels low across most of the UK last month. Only a handful of pollution problems were reported on the national monitoring network. Nitrogen dioxide problems occurred at Marylebone Road, London on the 5th and 6th, and unusually in Sheffield city centre on the 28th. Particle problems were more widespread, with targets being exceeded in Bury, Leamington Spa, Port Talbot, Redcar, Sheffield, Stoke and Wigan. The worst of these was in Leamington Spa on the 6th when particle concentrations reached 'High'. 2007 marks the tenth anniversary of the UK's Local Air Quality Management program. This is the process under which all local authorities in the UK have to undertake regular assessments of air quality in their areas and judge whether or not they will meet specified national targets for a range of basic pollutants. If it is considered 'likely' that these targets will be exceeded, councils must designate an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and set out a plan to attempt to achieve the objectives. Initially it was thought that less than a dozen AQMAs would need to be declared across the country. However the increased analysis of air pollution undertaken, along with greater understanding of where air pollution problems occur, has meant that by the end of last year around 200 out 433 local authorities have now declared AQMAs (mainly for nitrogen dioxide and particles). Whilst the process has not yet achieved many significant reductions in air pollution, it has greatly increased our knowledge of how great the problems are, and awareness is the first step that must be reached before solutions can be found.