11.1. Introduction

Local authorities have been required to conduct reviews and assessments of air quality in their areas since 1997. This involves monitoring of current levels of pollution and predicting changes to establish whether the national air quality objectives are being, and will continue to be, met locally. These national objectives are concentrations that are considered to be acceptable given current knowledge.

Table 11.1 summarises the objectives published as part of the Government’s 2000 Air Quality Strategy. If a local authority finds area(s) where the objectives are unlikely to be met, they must declare an Air Management Area (AMA). These areas may be small and localised (a couple of streets) or may involve a whole city. The local authority must then develop a plan to improve the air quality (Local Air Quality Action Plan). Figure 11.1 shows those local authorities (n=13) that have declared AMAs. These details are also available at the following site: www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm/laqm.php

All the AMAs in the region have been declared due to exceedences of the NO2 standard. NO2 is an irritant gas which can damage all membranes. Healthy individuals will not be affected by ambient UK levels although high concentrations can produce airway inflammation, narrowing of lung airways and may sensitise asthmatics to other air borne irritants.

The exceedences will be traffic related and action plans will reflect this. PCTs should ensure they are familiar with AMAs in their areas and be prepared to provide a public health input to their development and management.

Table 11.1. Objectives to be included in Regulations for the purposes of Local Air Quality Management

11.2. Air Quality Management

Figure 11.1. Local Authorities with declared air quality management zones 2003

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/strategy/pdf/foreword.pdf

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