In 1997 the government established a national air quality strategy (NAQS) in response to requirements of the Environment Act 1995.
This made it clear that good air quality was considered to be consistent with the principles of sustainable development and essential to the creation of an external environment in which individuals and communities can thrive.
Standards
An essential part of the strategy was the setting of air quality standards for certain pollutants, based on the findings and recommendations of the expert panel on air quality standards.
This group examined the scientific and medical evidence in relation to each pollutant in order to set a relevant health based standard.
The standards were adopted by the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions (DETR) for the national air quality strategy and thus form the context in which the review of air quality is being carried out.
Regulations
Air quality regulations require local authorities to undertake an air quality review and assessment.
Where air quality objectives are unlikely to be met, air quality management areas must be declared and action plans developed.
Assessments must look at all local sources of each pollutant and examine the effects that national policy will have in reducing levels.
For example, the predicted reductions in car exhaust pollutants due to increasingly more stringent exhaust emission controls on vehicles and changes in fuel specification have to be taken into account.
Improvements
Air quality in the UK has generally continued to improve since 1997 when the first air quality strategy was adopted.
An evaluation of the air quality strategy, published in 2005, indicated that, between 1990 and 2001, policies have resulted in a decline of air pollutants.
It estimated that policies had resulted in a reduction of more than 4,200 premature deaths and 3,500 hospital admissions per annum.
Furthermore, the evaluation shows that these policies have been cost beneficial.
Further work
Preliminary indications are that levels of nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and ozone in some of our major urban areas and alongside busy roads, are not declining as fast as expected and trends are flattening or even reversing.
An air quality strategy report was published in 2006. This estimated that if no further measures in addition to those already agreed are implemented, man-made particulate air pollution in the UK will continue to reduce average life expectancy by up to about five and a half months even by 2020.
The assessments indicate that a number of additional policy measures would, if implemented, generate significant additional benefits to society, public health and the environment.
These measures include:
- new tighter European vehicle emissions standards
- incentives for the early uptake of new European standards and low emission vehicles
- a national road pricing scheme
- reductions in emissions from small combustion plants
- reductions in emissions from ships
- improved sustainable distribution of freight
- a range of local 'smarter choices'
The air quality strategy review consultation also considers the impact on ecosystems, the relationship between air pollution and climate change.
It sets an agenda for longer term actions to improve our understanding of air pollutants and their impact on human health and the environment - as well as improving our understanding of influencing human behaviour.
As a footnote, the review concluded that more international co-operation - on a hemispheric or even global scale - will be required if we are to reduce levels of ozone in the UK and Europe in the longer term.
The five district councils in Cambridgeshire are continuing to work in partnership with the county council to carry out the assessment process in accordance with guidelines.
Current air pollution levels
More information about current air pollution levels can be found at:
- Ceefax pages 410 - 417
- Teletext page 106
- Freephone Air Pollution Information Service - 0800 556677
- UK Air Quality Archive
Contact us
If you have any questions about air quality in Cambridge please contact us.
Telephone 01223 457890
Email
env.health@cambridge.gov.uk
Environmental Services
Mandela House
4 Regent Street
Cambridge CB2 1BY
Downloads
- Updating and screening assessment 2009
- Air quality progress report 2008
- Air quality progress report 2007
- Further assessment of nitrogen dioxide 2006
- Updating and screening assessment 2006
- Detailed assessment of nitrogen dioxide 2004
- Local air quality management reports 2003
- Appendices to review and assessment 2003
- Detailed assessment appendix Va
- Detailed assessment appendix Vb
