National Air Quality Objectives
In 1995 the Government published its strategic policy
framework for air quality management that culminated in the
Environment Act 1995. As a requirement of the Environment Act the
Secretary of State published the first National Air Quality
Strategy in 1997 which established a framework for securing
improvements in air quality in the UK.
Clean air is an essential ingredient of a good quality of life
and the overall aim of the Strategy is to minimise the risk of poor
air quality to human health. At the heart of the Strategy are the
air quality standards and objectives for 7 common pollutants that
can cause harm to human health, which occur widely throughout the
UK, mainly because of the prevalence of industry and motor
vehicles.
The air quality standards and objectives are shown in the table
below.
| Pollutant |
Concentration |
Measured as |
Date to be achieved by |
|
Benzene
All authorities
|
16.25 m g/m3
|
Running annual mean |
31.12.2003
|
Benzene
England and Wales only |
5.00 m g/m3
|
Annual mean |
31.12.2010
|
| 1,3 Butadiene |
2.25 m g/m3
|
Running annual mean |
31.12.2003
|
| Carbon Monoxide |
10.0 mg/m3
|
Maximum daily
8 hour mean
|
31.12.2003
|
| Lead |
0.5 m g/m3
|
Annual mean
|
31.12.2004
|
| Nitrogen dioxide |
200 m g/m3 not to be
exceeded more than 18 times a year
|
1 hour mean
|
31.12.2005
|
| |
40 m g/m3
|
Annual mean
|
31.12.2005
|
|
Particles (PM10) (gravimetric)
All authorities
|
50 m g/m3 not to be
exceeded more than 35 times a year |
24 hour mean |
31.12.2004 |
| |
40 m g/m3
|
Annual mean
|
31.12.2004
|
| Sulphur Dioxide |
350 m g/m3 not to be
exceeded more than 24 times a year
|
1 hour mean
|
31.12.2004
|
| |
125 m g/m3 not to be
exceeded more than 3 times a year
|
24 hour mean
|
31.12.2004
|
| |
266 m g/m3 not to be
exceeded more than 35 times a year
|
15 minute mean
|
31.12.2005
|