Air Quality

Why is Air Quality important?

Poor air quality poses a serious environmental risk to public health. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as lung cancer, leading to reduced life expectancy. In the UK, it is estimated that the reduction in healthy life expectancy caused by air pollution is equivalent to 29,000 to 43,000 deaths per year. It is also estimated that between 2017 and 2025 the total cost to the NHS and social care system of air pollutants (fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide), will be £1.6 billion.

Air pollution disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of society, such as the young, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions. It can also exacerbate inequalities, as less affluent areas can often be associated with poorer air quality. More information on health and socio-economic impacts of air quality can be found at ‘All Our Health’ and ‘Health Matters’ online government resource pages. 

 

Air Pollutant Sources

There are two key air pollutants of concern in the UK: 

• Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), is a gas produced by the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) in ambient air (i.e. it is not formed directly and as such is known as a secondary pollutant). The pollutants NO and NO₂ are collectively termed oxides of nitrogen (NO_x). A large proportion of the UK’s NO_x emissions are from road transport. Non-road transport, industry, agriculture, and residential combustion make up the remainder. Roadside NOx emissions often decline rapidly with distance from the road.

• Particulate Matter (PM) (PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM_0.1), PM is a generic term to describe a mixture of solid and liquid particles of varying size, shape and composition. Some particles are emitted directly (primary PM). Other particles are formed in the atmosphere through complex chemical reactions (secondary PM). Fine particles are those with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers (µm) (PM₁₀), less than 2.5 µm (PM_2.5), and ultrafine particles, less than 0.1 µm (PM_0.1). Primary PM₁₀ emissions are particles emitted directly from combustion sources, transport, quarrying and construction activities. Secondary particulates are formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions of precursor pollutants, such as NO_x, sulphur dioxide (SO₂), ammonia (NH₃) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). Industry and agriculture are significant contributors to secondary PM. Particles can also occur naturally from pollen or Saharan dust. The smaller the particle size, the deeper these particles can penetrate into the lungs and the bloodstream. Importantly there is currently no evidence of a safe level of exposure to PM. Reducing PM is more complicated as it comes from multiples sources, both from direct primary combustion emissions and secondary sources formed from chemical reactions in the atmosphere and can often be transboundary (i.e. they have travelled long distances regionally or nationally). 

 

Policy and Legislative Context

EU Directives

The UK Government has a responsibility to meet legally binding limit values for concentrations in outdoor air for major air pollutants that impact public health. The limit values are set out within the European Union’s Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) and are implemented in the UK through the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020. Where air quality limit values fail to be met, measures to achieve them are required to be put in place, either nationally or locally

 

National Air Quality Targets

The 2023 Air Quality Strategy: Framework for Local Authority Delivery sets out national air quality standards and objectives for a number of local air pollutants. The objectives are policy targets, to be achieved as absolute targets or with a permitted number of exceedances, within a specified timescale. The air quality objectives applicable in England are defined within the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended 2002). Two new legally binding long-term targets to reduce concentration of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) have since been introduced by the Environment Act 2021. In England, the objectives for NO₂ and PM concentrations are summarised below. 

Pollutant	Concentration	Measured as
NO2	40µg/m3	Annual Mean
	200 µg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times per year	1-hour mean
PM10	40µg/m3	Annual Mean
	50µg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times per year	24-hour mean
PM2.5	50µg/m3 to be achieved by 2040	Annual Mean
	35% reduction in exposure compared to 2018 to be achieved by 2040	Annual Mean

 

Local Air Quality Management

Under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 as amended by the Environment Act 2021, local authorities are required to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas, and to determine whether or not air quality objectives are likely to be achieved.  Where exceedances are considered likely, the local authority must then declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends to put in place in pursuit of the objectives.  Details on the LAQM process can be found in Defra's 2022 LAQM Policy Guidance

 

Air Quality in East Staffordshire

Air Quality Monitoring

East Staffordshire Borough Council currently carries out monitoring for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) using a network of diffusion tubes located across the Borough and until recently from an automatic monitoring station at Derby Turn in Burton upon Trent.

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) operate a continuous urban background monitoring station off Masefield Crescent, Burton upon Trent. This is part of their Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN). This AURN site has monitored NO₂ since 2018 and PM10 / PM_2.5 from 2022. Data is available at https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/network-info?view=aurn

In 2023, East Staffordshire Borough Council received funding from Defra to install two low-cost air quality monitoring (Zephyr) sensors together with the launch of an online public portal known as the MyAir® web app. The Earthsense Zephyr is an iMCERTS certified real time air quality monitor that takes live measurements of ambient air pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), nitric oxide (NO), ozone (O₃), and particulate matter (PM₁, PM_2.5, PM₁₀). The Zephyr monitors are only indicative tools for air quality monitoring and cannot provide any conclusions against the air quality objectives. However the data that is uploaded to the MyAir® web app provides a useful interactive tool for the public to gain an insight on the health impacts of air pollution, pollution hotspots, peak times, and identify nearby sources contributing to elevated levels. This in turn may help enable people to make more informed choices on their own personal risks and use of alternative modes of travel. The MyAir® web app is currently available from https://portal.earthsense.co.uk/EastStaffordshirePublic/ 

 

Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs)

East Staffordshire Borough Council declared two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) for exceedances of the annual mean NO₂ objective relating to road traffic emissions back in 2007. AQMA 1 is centred on the Derby Turn roundabout, and the road network that fm3eeds into it. AQMA 2 is much smaller and is centred on St Peters Bridge roundabout in Stapenhill. 

The details, status and location map of each AQMA can be found by clicking on the AQMA name below:

AQMA 1 Derby Turn, Burton upon Trent
AQMA 2 St Peters Bridge, Stapenhill

 

The above links take you to an external website where information on current AQMAs is hosted, UK Air information Resource.

Within AQMA 2, NO₂ concentrations at relevant receptors have been meeting the annual mean objective for a number of years as shown in Figure 1 below. East Staffordshire Borough Council is now formally revoking this AQMA, but monitoring of NO₂ levels will however continue within this area.

 

Figure 1 - Trends in Annual Mean NO₂ concentrations in AQMA 2 at relevant exposures (2007-2023)

 

A copy of the revocation order for AQMA 2 can be found here. 

If you have any questions or wish to comment on this revocation please email [email protected] 

AQMA 1 centred on Derby Turn remains in force, albeit NO₂ concentrations here are also now meeting the annual mean objectives as of 2023. East Staffordshire Borough Council has nevertheless updated its Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) and the overarching Air Quality Strategy as outlined below. 

 

Air Quality Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) 2024-2029

East Staffordshire Borough Council has drafted an updated Air Quality Strategy, which sets out the overarching framework through which air quality will be managed within the Borough and includes our responsibilities under LAQM from 2024 to 2029. 

The overall aim of the new Air Quality Strategy for East Staffordshire Borough Council is:

"To monitor and improve local air quality to reduce the detrimental impacts that poor air quality can have on human health and the environment"

This Strategy supports the Council’s Corporate Plan Priorities for “Standing up for our Communities” by improving the health and wellbeing of our communities, protecting our environment and tackling health inequalities.

This new strategy is also supplemented by two technical documents. 

Technical Document 1 is the updated Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), which also covers the period 2024-2029.

Technical Document 2 is an Air Quality Policy for Development Control, which supplemented the previous 2015-2020 Air Quality Strategy. This document sets out the framework through which East Staffordshire Borough Council assesses air quality within the development control regime. This policy is still current but will be updated in due course and be formally adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). 

The new AQAP contains a revised set of measures that primarily addresses NO₂ within AQMA 1, but also addresses more strategic issues to try and reduce emissions of NO₂, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 and carbon dioxide (CO₂) across the borough that improves human health and the environment in a more equitable way.

The measures can be considered under eight broad topics:

• Alternatives to private vehicle use

• Policy guidance and development control

• Promoting low emission transport

• Promoting travel alternatives

• Public information

• Transport planning and infrastructure

• Traffic management

• Environmental permits

Our key priorities to be delivered through the revised AQAP are:

• To reduce NO₂ concentrations even further within AQMA 1 to levels consistently below 36µg/m³ through various supporting transport measures and enable revocation within the next few years. 

• To reduce emissions from development and regeneration through the formal adoption of a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for air quality. 

• To lead by example by reducing our own emissions and develop more internal/external working groups and ensure integration with Council decision making and policies.

• To raise awareness of air quality issues and provide information and guidance to members, businesses and residents as to how they can protect themselves and be part of the solution through behaviour change.

• To work towards reducing PM_2.5 emissions across the borough.

East Staffordshire Borough Council is now consulting on its 2024-2029 Air Quality Strategy and the updated AQAP that forms Technical Document 1 to the Strategy.

If you have any questions or wish to comment on the revised Air Quality Strategy and/or the AQAP please email [email protected] 

The consultation period ends on 25/10/2024

For full details of the Air Quality Strategy 2024-2029, AQAP 2024-2029 and Air Quality Policy for Development Control click on the named links below:

Draft Air Quality Strategy 2024-2029

Technical Document 1: Draft Air Quality Action Plan 2024-2029

Technical Document 2: Air Quality Policy for Development Control

 

Annual Status Reports

Under LAQM local authorities are annually required to submit an Annual Status Report (ASR) to report on progress in achieving objectives for certain air quality pollutants.  ASRs are designed to simplify the reporting process and introduce consistency to reporting.  The ASR predominantly includes information on progress on the implementation of AQAPs, a summary of any monitoring data over the previous 12 months and information on any changes that may affect air quality. The most recent ASRs can be viewed below

Annual Status Report 2024

Annual Status Report 2023

Combined Annual Status Report 2021/2022