Home > Air
Air
Content on this page has been provided by Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACoRS)
On this page:
1. Local Authority Air Quality Support Helpdesk
2. Why is air quality important?
3. Recent news
1. The Local Authority Air Quality Support Helpdesk
As the main source for local authorities on air quality management, the Local Authority Air Quality Support Helpdesk exists to provide support on monitoring, modelling and emissions to UK Local Authorities for. It is intended to assist Local Authorities with the Review and Assessment process, providing access to tools and advice on:
- Air quality monitoring (e.g. selection and use of monitoring equipment)
- Air quality dispersion modelling (e.g. selection and use of dispersion models.)
- Emissions inventories
The Helpdesk also provides support to Local Authorities for the assessment of D1 stack height calculations.
This new Helpdesk combines the services formerly provided by the Local Authority Monitoring Helpline and Modelling Helpdesk. The Helpdesk can be contacted on 0870 190 6050, or by e-mail. From this web site, you can download tools and guidance to assist with the LAQM process, and view useful publications and Frequently Asked Questions.
You can also access the data upload facility, the web-based data entry system, for reporting your NO2 diffusion tube data so that it can be shared with other local authorities and for national and regional comparison.
2. Why is air quality important?
Here are some of the most important factors:
- Health effects on humans: in the short term high pollution episodes may be associated with aggravation of existing heart, vascular and respiratory illnesses. The Department of Health's evidence suggests that each year the deaths of between 12,000 and 24,000 vulnerable people are brought forward, and between 14,000 and 24,000 hospital admissions may be associated with short-term impacts of air pollution on health. Epidemiology studies suggest that long-term exposure to fine particles could lead to a significant reduction in life expectancy
- Damage to vegetation: such as defoliation, disease, lower yields and death
- Eco-systems are also affected
- Damage to buildings: including surface erosion and corrosion: see this linkfor more information
3. Recent news
Content for AIR pages - October 08
LACORS lobby MEPs on the Industrial Emissions Directive
LACORS and the LGA have been working together to lobby MEPs on proposed changes to the new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). IED brings together seven existing EU directives, including Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), into a single piece of legislation. The IED covers not only air pollution, but also pollution to water and land.
Following a consultation of local authorities on the redrafted IPPC proposals, LACORS have used your experiences to develop a position on various changes to the list of industrial activities which need regulating and how their pollution should be prevented or controlled. Alongside representing local authorities at a national level, we have been working with local government representatives from other European member states, as part of the Council of the Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).
CEMR produced the following letter and draft amendment proposals, which the LGA group have sent to UK MEPs and members of the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).
Over 500 amendments have since been timetabled by MEPs in relation to IED. LACORS, alongside the LGA, will now be analysing these to consider future lobbying opportunities on behalf of local government ahead of a vote by the ENVI, which is now scheduled for December 2008/January 2009
Government gives electric vehicles boost
The Department for Transport has announced a range of measures designed to boost the use of electric vehicles across the country.
At an international meeting of experts in the field, the Secretary of State for Transport set out a £100million plan to drive the use of greener vehicles. Measures include:
- Providing 100 electric cars to people in
UK - £10million to run electric car demonstration projects
- £20million committed to research into making the vehicles more practical and affordable.
- Development of international standards with other countries
- Assessing impact on the National Grid of widespread use of electric vehicles.
- 10 companies have been shortlisted to provide electric and low carbon vans for public sector bodies, including several local authorities.
Promoting electric cars to residents, for example by providing electric charging points, or by including them as part of the council's own fleet could help contribute to national performance indicators related to air quality and climate change.
Further details of the Government's plans can be accessed here:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=382426&NewsAreaID=2
Shipping emissions reductions agreed
The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organisation unanimously adopted proposals to reduce air pollutants from shipping at its meeting in early October.
The amendments to Annex VI of the MARPOL regulations, proposed in April, will see a reduction in sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulates. The proposals will come into force on 1 July 2010.
Further information is available on the IMO website
LACORS response to the LAQM consultation
LACORS has submitted a response to Defra on the review of local air quality management guidance. The submission welcomes improvements in the guidance, but also calls for clarification on certain specific issues such as:
• Whether bias calculated in one year can be used for subsequent years
• Uncertainty of figures in new background maps
• Approaches to verification
• Triplication of diffusion tubes
• Emission factors for idling trains
Successful prosecution for trade bonfires by Mendip
Mendip District Council has successfully prosecuted a businessman for burning trade waste which created black smoke under the Clean Air Act 1993. The case has resulting in a fine of £3,200 and an order to pay £800 in costs.
Mendip takes an advisory and educational approach to enforcement; however in this case, advice had been repeatedly ignored.
Further details can be found on Mendip's website here.
