Air Quality

The air quality in the Gosport Borough is generally good.  Climatic conditions can, however, affect air quality for short periods.  Persons who are most sensitive to air pollution may wish to check current conditions. There are links to Latest Information below.

GREEN MOTORING

The Environmental Transport Association web site contains useful inforation on 'greener' motoring. Click on the link below.

ETA Website

ACT ON CO2

The Energy Saving Trust site promotes the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from cars. This includes advice on smarter driving plus tips on buying a new vehicle. There is also a savings calculator. Click on the link below.

EST weblink

LATEST INFORMATION ON LOCAL AIR QUALITY

Click on a link -

Quarterly reports from the Council's automatic air quality monitoring station

Latest information from Gosport's air quality monitoring station: Please click on the link to see latest air quality data.

Information for the wider Portsmouth area

Information Across Europe : A new web site was launched at the end of 2008 to provide information on air pollution in Europe for people suffering from respiratory diseases. Know Your Air For Health covers the whole of the EU and provides links to national data, etc.

NATIONAL AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

The United Kingdom National Air Quality Strategy (UKNAQS), published in 1997 and revised in January 2000, identified eight ambient air pollutants that have the potential to cause harm to human health. These pollutants are all associated with local air quality problems, except ozone, which is a regional pollutant.

The 1997 Air Quality Regulations provided local authorities with new responsibilities to assess and manage air quality in their area of jurisdiction. These regulations were subsequently superseded by the 2000 Air Quality Regulations. If it is predicted that the government (EU-based) standard for one or more pollutant cannot be met by the deadline date, the local authority must declare an Air Quality Management Area and put in place measures to control the pollution level(s). The overall objective is the ensure that pollution levels do not adversely affect human health; they are, therefore, not "zero standards" but take account of the likely health effects and the presence of people likely to be exposed. Thus a high level in an unpopulated area is not, strictly speaking, a breach of the standard.

In addition, a national objective has been set for ozone but, because it is a long distance pollutant the Government decided that international effort would be required. Local Councils are therefore not obliged to meet the objective.

MONITORING OF AIR QUALITY IN THE GOSPORT AREA

The Council monitors air quality -

• continuously : at a fixed monitoring station along Fareham Road (A32), and

• periodically : at various locations using diffusion tubes

Continuous Monitoring : The air quality monitoring station measures two pollutants primarily attributable to motor vehicle exhaust, namely -

particulate matter : specifically PM 10 (defined as particulate matter which passes through a size-selective inlet with a 50% efficiency cut-off at 10µm aerodynamic diameter). These are particles small enough to pass into the deepest reaches of the lung. In the Gosport station, particles are monitored using TEOM (Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance) technology. Health effects of PM10 are largely linked with the worsening of pre-existing conditions. There is some concern that fine particles from diesel exhaust may also have a carcinogenic effect. The true effects of PM10 are difficult to determine as they are masked by other parameters often associated with different PM10 exposure levels such as weather and lifestyle, e.g. smoking.

 

nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) : oxides of nitrogen can damage lung structure, metabolism and reduce resistance of the lungs to bacterial infection and are also recognised as indirect greenhouse gases and are one of the main contributors to acid rain deposition.

Periodic Monitoring : Passive Samplers, such as diffusion tubes, are the cheapest method of monitoring air quality. They rely on a process of molecular diffusion of a pollutant to a specific absorbent formula or type and can give a good overall picture of average pollution levels in an area. They represent an extremely cost effective and simple method for large scale screening and baseline studies. In Gosport we use diffusion tubes to monitor -

nitrogen dioxide (as above)

sulphur dioxide (SO₂) : this is an irritant when inhaled, causing breathing difficulties in high concentrations. Recent studies indicate that asthma sufferers have an increased susceptibility to the adverse effects caused during pollution episodes with exposure often leading to asthma attacks.

LOCAL REPORTS ON AIR QUALITY

The Council's latest report on local air quality is Progress Report 2010. This was submitted to the Government at the end of April 2011 and approved in early May. It uses a national template provided for Councils. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the link below and a summary leaflet will be available soon. The next report will be an Updating and Screening Assessment Detailed Report for 2011 which should be available here by May 2012.

Detailed Progress Report on Air Quality 2010

Detailed Progress Report on Air Quality 2009

Summary Leaflet on Air Quality 2009

Updating and Screening Assessment Detailed Report 2008

Summary Leaflet on Air Quality 2008

Detailed Progress Report on Air Quality 2007

Summary Leaflet on Air Quality 2007

Detailed Progress Report on Air Quality 2006

Summary Leaflet on Air Quality 2006

Updating and Screening Assessment Detailed Report 2005

Summary Leaflet on Air Quality 2005

Detailed Progress Report on Air Quality 2004

Summary Leaflet on Air Quality 2004

Detailed Progress Report on Air Quality 2003

Summary Leaflet on Air Quality 2003

Updating and Screening Assessment Detailed Report 2002

Further information, can be obtained from Environmental Health Services (see address on EH Contacts page).