Air quality review and assessment - first stage

The Review and Assessment of air quality is the first part of the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process, and this report provides the first part of the phased Review and Assessment. The intention of the phasing is to ensure that local authorities only undertake as much work as necessary, enabling those local authorities without air quality problems the opportunity not to use up valuable resources.

Specific guidance notes for local authorities have been provided by the DETR for the Review and Assessment.

Every local authority is required to undertake the first stage review and assessment. This consists of an initial screening of industrial, transport and other sources of pollutants, which have a significant impact within an authority’s borders. This screening is undertaken for the following air pollutants: benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, fine particles (specifically PM10), and sulphur dioxide.

The first stage then assists local authorities in identifying the pollutants and localities, which should be the focus of the further stages of review and assessments.

Conclusion of the report

The conclusion of the report was that for the following pollutants, no further action need be taken at the present time:

• Benzene
• 1,3-Butadiene
• Lead
• Sulphur dioxide

However the report also concludes that further investigation is needed for the remaining pollutants for which air quality objectives for 2005 have been set:

• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen dioxide
• PM10

On the basis of these conclusions the Council is recommended to undertake Stage 2 of the Local Air Quality Management Review and Assessment process for these pollutants only.

More information

If you wish to receive a copy of this report please e-mail specialprojects@richmond.gov.uk or contact: 020 8891 7729.