Planning

• Archaeology and Heritage
• Beyond LA21
• Countryside
• Community Projects Guide
• Development Control
• Ecology
• Forest of Bowland
• Forestry
• Grants
• Green Tourism
• Lancashire Environment 2002
  • Foreward
  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • Summary - What the indicators show
  • Bathing Water Quality
  • River Water Quality
  • Lead in Drinking Water
  • Radioactivity
  • Waste and Recycling
  • Landscape Character
  • Landscape - Historic Change
  • Landscape - Woodlands
  • Landscape - Ponds
  • Landscape - Farm Size and Type
  • Countryside
  • Heritage Assets
  • Wildlife
  • Traffic Levels
  • Global Atmosphere
  • Air Quality
  • Quality of the Urban Environment - Housing Condition
  • Quality of the Urban Environment - Urban Extent
  • Quality of the Urban Environment - Noise
  • Environmental & Social Deprivation
  • References
  • Appendix - How the indicators have been measured
  • Lancashire Environment 2002: What do you think?
• Landscape
• Minerals and Waste
• REMADE in Lancashire
• Public Rights of Way
• Ranger Service
• Rural Partnership
• School Grounds Development
• Structure Plan
• Waste Management

Lancashire Environment 2002

Air Quality

There has been a significant fall in Sulphur Dioxide levels which correspond closely to smoke levels. The decline in coal burning in power stations and in homes has been a significant factor, as have cleaner car engines.

Despite some fluctuations, the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide have remained fairly constant in most locations.

The levels of both Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide are now both well within the National Air Quality Standard.

Air quality is a key environmental issue. High levels of pollutants in the atmosphere can cause a number of health problems. People suffering from heart and lung diseases are particularly vulnerable.

Air quality monitoring has improved greatly in recent years with all District Councils required to monitor levels of these and five other key pollutants.The first round of assessments carried out between 1998 and 2001 revealed that none of these exceed the National Air Quality Standard in Lancashire.Those Standards are set out in the National Air Quality Strategy adopted by the Government in 2000.

These indicators measure the annual mean figures for two air pollutants - Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide - for which historical data is available. In 1992, 50% of Nitrogen Dioxide emissions came from road traffic with a further 25% from coal burning power stations.The latter are a major source of Sulphur Dioxide emissions together with domestic coal fires, both of which have declined in the last ten years.

There is now a greater emphasis on monitoring daily and hourly fluctuations in air pollution levels and the National Strategy has different standards for these. Further indicators will need to be developed using the District Council monitoring reports.

What is the role of LCC and other agencies?

Lancashire County Council has worked alongside the District Councils in assessing air quality in Lancashire, in particular in developing real time monitoring of air pollutants and in modelling of air quality patterns.

District Councils are required to monitor levels of the seven pollutants in the National Air Quality Strategy.

The Environment Agency are responsible for regulating emissions to air from major sources, including industrial sites and power stations.

Source: AEA Technology

The National Air Quality Strategy Standard for annual mean Nitrogen Dioxide levels is 40 g/m3 which should be achieved by 31st December 2005.

Source: AEA Technology

The National Air Quality Strategy Standard for annual mean Nitrogen Dioxide levels is 40 g/m3 which should be achieved by 31st December 2005.

Source: AEA Technology

The National Air Quality Strategy Standard for annual mean Sulphur Dioxide levels is 20 g/m3 which came into force on 31st December 2000.