First "Summer Smog" of 2008 warningDate: 09/05/2008
Warm, sunny, weather forecast over England and Scotland over the next few days is likely to lead to the first summer smog episode of 2008.
Read the full Information Bulletin on the Defra Web Site at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080509b.htm
National Air Quality Indicator for Local Authorities now publishedDate: 02/04/2008
Communities and Local Government have now published the final set of national indicators for local authorities. The air quality indicator (NI 194: Air quality - % reduction in NOx and primary PM10 emissions through a local authority's estate and operations) is included within this set of indicators: www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/735143
Local authorities are required to gather emissions data from 1 January - 31 December 2008, to be reported to Defra by 30 April 2009. The emissions tool to be used for this purpose, and accompanying guidance, is available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/local/indicator.htm
New Practical Guidance on using diffusion tubes has now been releasedDate: 19/02/2008
New Practical Guidance on the use of Diffusion Tubes for Ambient NO2 Monitoring has now been released. The document presents the findings of the Working Group on harmonisation of NO2 diffusion tube preparation and analysis methods, led by AEA Energy & Environment and Air Quality Consultants on behalf of Defra and the Devolved Administrations. The guidance is primarily written for laboratories that supply and analyse diffusion tubes, but also contains useful guidance for diffusion tube users. The recommendations are expected to be implemented by all parties by January 1st 2009.
Click here to download the Guidance
Air quality indicator for sustainable development 2007 provisional results publishedDate: 24/01/2008
The air quality indicator is one of the 68 indicators of the Government's Sustainable Development Strategy. It measures annual levels of pollution from particulates (PM10) and ozone (O3), the two pollutants thought to have the greatest health impacts, as well as the number of days on which levels of any one of a basket of five pollutants were 'moderate or higher'.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080124a.htm
The main results are:
- Urban background particulate levels averaged 21 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg m-3) in 2007 compared to 24 µg m-3 in 2006. These levels have fluctuated in the last 5 years, although there has been an overall decreasing trend since 1993, the first year for which data were available.
- Roadside particulate levels averaged 31 µg m-3 in 2007 compared to 32 µg m-3 in 2006. There has been a general downward trend since monitoring started in 1997, although this decline has slowed since 2001.
- Rural ozone levels* averaged 67 µg m-3 in 2007 compared to 74 µg m-3 in 2006 and 68 µg m-3 in 1993. There is no clear long term trend.
- Urban background ozone levels averaged 57 µg m-3 in 2007 compared to 61 µg m-3 in 2006 and 44 µg m-3 in 1992. These levels have shown an overall increasing long term trend since 1992, the first year for which data were available.
- In urban areas, air pollution in 2007 was recorded as moderate or higher on 23 days on average per site, compared with 41 days in 2006, and 59 days in 1993. This series has reflected a high degree of year-on-year variability over time, and this has again been apparent for 2007.
- In rural areas, air pollution in 2007 was moderate or higher for 26 days on average per site, compared with 56 in 2006. This figure has also varied significantly over time.
- These results are provisional and are therefore subject to change. Final results will be available in the spring.
Preliminary assessment of performance against the Air Quality Strategy objectives in 2007Date: 24/01/2008
Defra and the Devolved Administrations' preliminary assessment of performance against the Air Quality Strategy objectives in 2007, which is based on national automated monitoring sites, indicates that:
- have met the objectives for:
- Sulphur Dioxide (SO2); benzene; 1,3-butadiene and carbon monoxide
- have not met the objectives for:
- Particulates (PM10); nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - both of which are problems mainly along busy roads and in urban centres.
- Ozone (O3)
No data for lead are yet available for 2007 for analysis, but it can be assumed that this objective has been achieved as annual levels for the past several years have been extremely low. This is the same situation as this time last year.
This assessment is made on preliminary monitoring data only. Supplementary modelling work may reveal further exceedences although this is not likely for 1,3-butadiene or carbon monoxide.
Under the Local Air Quality Management system over 180 local authorities have declared air quality management areas (AQMAs), mainly for NO2 and/or PM10, although 12 authorities have also declared for SO2. Those authorities with AQMAs have produced or are producing air quality action plans.
Further developments on the UK Air Quality ArchiveDate: 24/01/2008
Defra and the Devolved Administrations are pleased to announce two simultaneous and significant new developments to the UK Air Quality Archive at www.airquality.co.uk
. This high-profile website already provides a comprehensive one-stop resource for data, forecasts, network and background information covering all aspects of air pollution in the UK.
- A real time Google EarthTM interface. This allows website users, after downloading Google Earth and a simple data file – to directly access a real-time map of UK-wide pollution levels, as well as detailed information from over 130 automatic monitoring stations throughout the UK. Simply click on any site icon to obtain graphs, current pollution levels, site pictures and other useful information.
- An 'Air Quality in the UK' report home page. The latest in a long-running series of annual reports on the UK's air quality is published today; this summarises measurements from large-scale national air pollution monitoring networks operated on behalf of Defra and the Devolved Administrations. It includes data and analyses from the calendar year (January to December) of 2006. The new reports home page and interactive 2006 report can now be seen at www.airquality.co.uk/archive/annualreport
New Local Government Performance Framework - air quality performance indicatorDate: 12/11/2007
The Local Government White Paper announced a new performance framework for local government. In July 2007, Defra published its proposals for the new performance indicators, including one on air quality. On 11 October 2007, Communities and Local Government announced the new performance framework of 198 indicators (visit www.communities.gov.uk
). Communities and Local Government is currently consulting on the technical detail of the proposed indicators.
Defra commissioned research to inform the air quality performance indicator, which developed the methodology for measuring reductions in oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and primary particulate matter (PM10), as well as CO2 (for the purpose of the climate change mitigation indicator). The final report, proposed methodology and emissions tool (a user-friendly spreadsheet tool through which local authorities will calculate emissions) are available via the Defra Website
.
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 Changes to the Action Plan Helpdesk WebsiteDate: 07/11/2007
Following changes to Defra's contractor the Action Planning Helpdesk
website has been revised.
The website is now part of the UK Air Quality Archive within the Local Air Quality Management pages and users can contact the site managers to leave feedback, ask questions regarding action planning and sign up for notifications (via email) when additional information is posted or existing information revised. Information on the site is managed in three sections:
- Guidance = official guidance and other tools concerning duties regarding action planning and developing plans.
- Good Practice = examples and case studies of good practice.
- Learning Exchange = an archive of local authority and other experience in action planning from a variety of sources.
Air Quality StrategyDate: 17/07/2007
The Government and the devolved administrations today published the latest Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, available at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality
. It sets out a way forward for work and planning on air quality issues, gives details of the air quality objectives to be achieved and introduces a new policy framework for tackling fine particles, similar to the approach being proposed in the new European air quality directive, currently under negotiation. It also identifies potential new national policy measures which modelling suggests could help achieve significant health benefits and move us closer towards meeting the air quality objectives.
Site Information ArchiveDate: 17/07/2007
The UK Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) site information archive website has been revamped and updated with new functionalities and mapping capabilities to enhance data sharing and facilitate usage of information to the public. The new website is available at: www.bv-aurnsiteinfo.co.uk
. The AURN site, run by Bureau Veritas on behalf of Defra and the Devolved Administrations, now includes dynamic views of all monitoring stations based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Google MapsTM, which allow the user to zoom at street level and see either maps or high-resolution satellite images of the surrounding area. The new site is also linked to Google EarthTM, which gives the user full control over the level of details and information to display. Now it is possible to select monitoring stations by type, by pollutant measured, or by geographical area. Both closed and active site locations can be selected.
New - Improved Air Quality Archive Data Download SelectorDate: 17/07/2007
In response to feedback from technical users the Air Quality Archive
data download selector has been updated and improved. The new version
incorporates all the previous selection options on a single screen,
rather than through the sequential set of menus and pages available
previously. This significant enhancement should allow users to select
their choices much more rapidly, and to easily clear the selections
and
start again if they wish to make further data downloads. To try the
new
system please choose Measured Data and Simple Statistics at http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/data_and_statistics.php
.
New – NOx to NO2 Converter CalculatorDate: 23/04/2007
The calculator for converting roadside NOx to NO2 has been updated. The original calculator, issued as part of the current Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG02, was based on measurements from 1999 - 2001. Since then, evidence has emerged that the proportion of primary NO2 in vehicle exhaust has increased and the relationship between NOx and NO2 at the roadside has changed.
A new version of the NOx to NO2 converter has now been issued by Air Quality Consultants, based on findings from a recent study using monitoring data from 2003 - 2006, to allow for the increase in the primary NO2 from traffic. The new calculator, issued as a spreadsheet, should be used with immediate effect.
For further information, please refer to the following
New Air Quality Web Site and Database for ScotlandDate: 02/04/2007
www.scottishairquality.co.uk
This web site was officially launched on April 2nd 2007. It is funded by the Scottish Executive and has been carefully developed following a Pilot Study and extensive consultation with stakeholders. The site provides comprehensive information on:
- Latest up-to-date concentrations across Scotland
- Reports and Analysis of trends and historical data
- Information on both National air quality policy and the work of local authorities
- Descriptions of what causes air pollution, how it is measured, and the relevant impacts
Transformational Government Website RationalisationDate: 15/02/2007
Some of you have enquired about the future of Air Quality Archive following items in the media concerning the Transformational Government website rationalisation.
The proposal is to improve the quality of service by producing a more centralised and streamlined system of government websites.
At present the plans are still in the proposal stage. For the time being there will be no change to the service offered by this website.
Please be assured that whatever the outcome of this process the Air Quality Archive intends to remain committed to maintaining the very highest level of service to its users.
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