Which pollutants are monitored?
Under Part IV of the Act, local authorities are required to carry out a periodical review and assessment of air quality. From this assessment, local authorities can identify areas where air quality is unlikely to meet the objectives prescribed in the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) and the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000.
Standard objectives have been set for seven pollutants:
- carbon monoxide (CO)
- benzene
- 1,3-butadiene
- nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- lead
- sulphur dioxide (SO2)
- PM10 (fine particles that are not filtered out by your nose, throat and trachea)
The assessment standards are set at levels at which minimal effects on human health are likely to occur. If the pollution levels are expected to be higher, local authorities are required to declare Air Quality Management Areas and produce action plans that explain what they propose to do to improve air quality.
Responding to and reducing high levels of pollution
Tower Hamlets continues to implement its Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP). Regular reviews are also carried out. The role of the local authority Review and Assessment (R&A) process is to identify geographical areas where it is considered that the government's air quality objectives cannot be met.
Tower Hamlets completed the first round of the Review and Assessment of local air quality management in 2002. The second round of R&A is currently underway.
Timeline of key events:
November 1998: Stage 1 R&A report
Identified major pollution sources and significant pollution contributors to air quality.
Dec 2001: Designation of Air Quality Management Area
This covers the whole of Tower Hamlets to monitor levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulates (PM10) across the borough.
Dec 2003: Publication of Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP)
The AQAP details the measures that Tower Hamlets will take in order to improve air quality in the borough.
March 2004: Updating and Screening Assessment (USA)
This report investigated possible new sources of pollution from road alterations, changes in traffic patterns, and the development of new industrial and commercial premises. The report also assessed pollutants which are still at risk of exceeding the NAQS objectives and noted improvements.
October 2004: Detailed Assessment (DA)
An assessment of fugitive particulate (PM10) emissions using monitoring and further computer modelling.
April 2005: Progress Report
This describes the development of AQAP implementation and results of the latest air quality monitoring.
2006: A new Updating and Screening Assessment (USA)
A new assessment will be required to review the present air quality. If there has been a change in pollution sources and there are new risks to the air quality objectives, a further detailed assessment (DA) will be required.
