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May 2009 news

Defra submits PM10 exemption
Defra has submitted the UK’s application to the European Commission for an extension to meet air quality limit values for PM10.
l The application comprises a series of detailed forms and a technical report, which are available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/eu-int/eu-directives/airqual-directives/notification.htm

Recession measures could help air quality
The Government’s latest Budget includes some measures that may impact air quality.

National biomass impact proves very large
In response to questioning by Epuk, the Government has finally released its analysis of potential air quality impacts of biomass. They are large (up to £2.8bn).

EEA records more PM exposure
A report by the European Environment Agency attempts to use European monitoring data to estimate population pollution exposure.
l EEA’s report Spatial assessment of PM10 and ozone concentrations in Europe (2005) can be viewed on www.eea.europa.eu

News from the IEH meeting held last month at Cranfield

NO2: real or imaginary?
Discussion continued at the Cranfield Institute of Environment and Health meeting on whether NO2 led to health effects in its own right, or is simply a marker for something else.

Approved analysis underestimated
Government assessment methods may underestimate the impact of particles on health according to Mike Ashmore of York University.

Noise ignored in air quality studies
Impacts of noise have been inadequately controlled for in air quality studies, Imperial researcher Lars Jarup told the IEH conference held in Cranfield last month.

News from the LAQN/ERG seminar held in London last month

Tensions erupt on data conflict
Delegates at the Environmental Research Group/London Air Quality Network conference held last month heard experts voice concerns about the growing gap between monitoring data and modelled projections.

New London study
Medic Chris Griffiths told the conference about a huge new study set up within the London area to look at air pollution health effects.

Defra accused of deceit
Retired medic Stan Prokop attended the LAQN meeting and has voiced his concerns.

Report calls for targeted London zone
The London Assembly has completed its inquiry into air quality in London.

Birkett scoops AQB award
Campaign for Clean Air in London leader Simon Birkett has won this year’s ‘most mentioned’ award from AQB.

Epuk on LTp guidance
Epuk has responded to the recent DfT consultation guidance for the third round of local transport plans.

Register updated
The UK Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (UK PRTR) has been updated.
l www.defra.gov.uk/prtr

New FAQs
New frequently asked questions have been posted on the review and assessment helpdesk website.
l Review and assessment www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review

Plan freedoms U-turn
Councils may once again be obliged to produce action plans in a U turn just announced.
l www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/publications/consultations

Three win AURN contracts
Lucrative monitoring contracts awarded by Defra were much discussed on the Mcerts stands.

13 gang up to challenge Heathrow
13 organisations have joined together to challenge the Government’s decision to expand Heathrow.
l www.2MGroup.org.uk

Metals remain low in network
Metals in the UK remained low, a report from NPL claims.
l www.airquality.co.uk

Biomass: sink or sinner
The Environment Agency has released a report on the carbon balance of biomass plants.
l Biomass: Carbon sink or carbon sinner can be viewed on www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Biomass__carbon_sink_or_carbon_sinner_summary_ report.pdf

Six year review
Government has consulted on the periodic review of process guidance notes which set out best available techniques to minimise air emissions from Part B installation.
l Consultation on the scope of the proposed 6-year review of process guidance notes for Part B installations www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/sixyear-review/index.htm

Biomass: how to handle it
Guidance has been proposed for local authorities and developers keen to handle biomass correctly

Mcerts 2009
The two-day Mcerts monitoring event held in Bretby last month attracted good numbers. Jack Pease reports from the exhibition which saw monitor firms in a sombre mood.

Training opportunities
Air Monitors is running a monitoring workshop and training courses on its AQ web software suite.
l www.airmonitors.co.uk/aqweb_seminars

Zones reported
AEA has released a summary of data submitted to Europe on the UK’s exceedence of objectives.
l UK air quality modelling for annual reporting 2007 on ambient air quality assessment under Directives 96/62/EC, 1999/30/EC and 2000/69/EC can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk

Ozone reported
43 UK zones will exceed the long term eight hour objective for ozone, the UK’s report to the EU suggests.
l UK and Gibraltar air quality modelling for annual reporting 2007 on ambient air quality assessment under Council Directives 96/62/EC and 2002/3/EC relating to ozone in ambient air can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

Rich pickings likely from data mountain
Defra has completed a consultation on the INSPIRE Directive.
l The paper can be viewed at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/inspire/index.htm

Tube update
The NO2 diffusion tube bias adjustment factor spreadsheet has been updated from the 03/09 version.
l The new spreadsheet (v. 05/09) may be downloaded from the helpdesk website www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review

Low carbon London
London Mayor Boris Johnson has allocated £3 million to develop 10 low carbon zones to cut carbon emissions.

Compost control
Guidance has been produced for local authorities on composting and odour.
l NANR 275 – Good practice and regulatory guidance on composting and odour control for local authorities can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/noise/research/pdf/composting-odour-guidance.pdf

Eco omission
Epuk believes the draft planning policy statement on Ecotowns should include low emission criteria.

Ozone dips
According to several indicators, ozone levels during the summer of 2008 were the lowest since 1997 according to an European Environment Agency report.
l Air pollution by ozone across Europe in summer 2008 www.eea.europa.eu

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April 2009 news

First look at NO2 plans
Defra has unveiled to the Air Quality Forum its early thoughts on what it plans to do about excess NO2.

Action plans are not working, inquiry told
A transport expert claims that air quality management areas are not working.
l The meeting can be viewed via webcast: www.london.gov.uk/assembly/webcasts.jsp

London Assembly probes air
The London Assembly Environment Committee has held two hearings as part of its air quality probe. Findings will feed in to a revamp of the London Mayor’s air quality strategy which is due to be released in draft form this summer.

SupportingU wins London contract
Monitor support firm SupportingU has won a key contract to maintain and service air quality monitors. The contract was formerly held by Casella.
l Website www.supportingu.co.uk

Strategy set for child health
The Health Protection Agency has finalised its children’s environment and health strategy. It consulted on a draft last year (AQB April p7).
l A children’s environment and health strategy for UK www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1204707136075

Agency set to police aviation emissions
More details have emerged on the plans to have the Environment Agency regulating the aviation industry emission trading scheme. But as yet no further details have emerged on how the Agency will ensure Heathrow expansion complies with air quality limits (AQB February p5).
l www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/consultations.aspx

Pitt lined up for planning commission chair
Sir Michael Pitt is lined up to chair the Infrastructure Planning Commission. The Commission is being created as part of the Planning Act shake-up that will see major projects decided by the Commission rather than public inquiries.
l Pitt’s grilling can be viewed on www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=3695

Dundee biomass plant allowed
Scottish Government has overruled Dundee City Council on biomass.
l Hillcrest Group Appeal decision P/PPA/180/232 can be viewed on the website www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/casesearch.aspx

Lacors responds to PM10 plan
Lacors (The Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) has criticised the consultation process for the draft UK notification to the European Commission to secure additional time to meet the limit values for PM10 (AQB February p1).
l www.lacors.gov.uk

How clean is Europe? New reports
Two reports have been released by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on Europe’s air quality.
l www.eea.europa.eu

Dixon departs
Janet Dixon is to leave Defra after nearly 13 years in the air quality division.

Muir moves on
Bristol City Council’s David Muir will shortly leave the council.
l From 31st May he can be contacted on 0117 979 1688 email Muirenvironment@aol.com

How to fix FDMSs
AEA has released a manual on how to maintain Teom FDMS particle monitors correctly. It uses pictures and diagrams to show how the new generation of particle monitors can be kept running correctly.
l Site operational procedures for Teom FDMS analysers can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

London poll
The London Assembly’s Environment Committee (LAEC) is currently conducting a public opinion poll on air quality.
l The deadline is the 6th April. http://tiny.cc/zcLyK  or email david.bellman@ london.gov.uk

Teom discontinued
Thermo has announced discontinuation of the Teom 1400ab particulate monitor. Orders will be accepted until September and equipment will be supported for a further ten years.
l www.thermo.com/com/cda/product/detail/1,,10122682,00.html

All Coventry declared
All of Coventry has been declared an AQMA for NO2.

Quantitech: extra PhD
Quantitech, the Milton Keynes based supplier of environmental monitoring instrumentation has added yet another member of staff bearing doctorial qualifications.
l www.quantitech.co.uk

New London monitors
The London Borough of Hounslow has recently added two sites to the London air quality network.

ARTEMIS concludes
TRL has published findings from the massive pan European ARTEMIS project.
l PPR350 ARTEMIS: Assessment and reliability of transport emission models and inventory systems – final report www.trl.co.uk

Highways plans
The Highways Agency has released its Business Plan for 2009/10.
l Highways Agency’s business plan for 2009-10 www.highways.gov.uk

INSPIRE data deal
Defra has launched a public consultation on the INSPIRE Directive.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/inspire/index.htm

Fees set for LAPC
Fees have been set for 2009/10 for local authority environmental regulation of industrial plant.
l More details can be found on Defra’s website www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/fees-risk/fees.htm

Risk extension
Risk-based regulation is being introduced for the following sectors from 1 April 2009
l More details can be found on Defra’s website www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/guidance/notes/aqnotes/index.htm

Comeap on cement fuels
Aqeg’s sister group Comeap has updated its advice on burning of substitute fuels in cement kilns. on health of each proposed variation in fuel usage.”
l www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap

Indicator change
National indicators have been tweaked including NI 194 on air quality
l Updated definitions can be seen on www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/updatednidefinitions

Monitoring at Mcerts
We take a sneak preview at the two-yearly Mcerts monitoring conference and exhibition taking place later this month

Ozone: an intractable problem
The Air Quality Expert Group has finalised its report on ozone. Are there any simple answers in its latest report stretching to 240 pages?
l Ozone in the UK can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/panels/aqeg

What next for Aqeg?
The stream of long reports coming out of Aqeg could (in theory) come to an end – Defra commissioned a review of its future – which reported last month.
l Review of the Air Quality Expert Group Stage 1 can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/panels/aqeg/

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March 2009 news

LTp guidance: too vague
Reactions are emerging to the recent consultation on guidance on LTP3.

AQ prompts Edinburgh parking scheme
In contrast to their rejection of congestion charge proposals a few years ago, Edinburgh residents appear to have backed a new parking charge scheme that will penalise polluting cars.

Pope sets out health benefits
A study by respected air quality researcher C Arden Pope has quantified the health benefits of fine particle reductions.
l Fine-particulate air pollution and life expectancy in the United States, New England Journal of Medicine 2009;360:376-86.C. Arden Pope III et al, www.nejm.org

AQ features in Bristol rap
Bristol City Council has been criticised by the Local Authority Ombudsman over procedures for approving a stadium redevelopment scheme. Air quality officers featured in the judgement – but council deficiencies did not influence the decision.
l Report ref 07B02878 can be downloaded from www.lgo.org.uk

2008 ozone episodes unpicked by AEA
AEA has analysed two ozone episodes that took place last summer.
l Air pollution forecasting: ozone pollution episodes report (May and July 2008), Rachel Yardley, can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

More emissions
Further data have been released from the 2007 National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) for UK air pollutants.
l www.defra.gov.uk/news/2009/090213a.htm

Caution costs?
Scottish Renewables says new technical guidance on air quality should allow councils to approve more biomass installations. Excessive caution to date has cost £4.5m, it claims.

Compliance plans criticised
The Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) has responded to Defra’s draft submission to Europe explaining how it will meet PM10 objectives by 2011 (AQB February p1).
l Campaign for Clean Air in London website www.cleanairinlondon.org/

Pollution ‘driving people to early death’
The London Assembly has held a ‘courtroom style’ hearing into air quality in London.

Paint leads to NOx fall?
Application of NOX reducing coatings in Congleton has been coupled with a fall in NO2 concentrations. Longer term monitoring is taking place to see whether the drop is because of the paint or coincidental.
l www.ecopurer.com

More details emerge on planning changes
Further details have emerged on how the Planning Act will affect major developments.

Stansted Inquiry
A preliminary hearing has taken place as part of the Planning Inquiry for the expansion of Stansted Airport.
l www.stopstanstedexpansion.com

Pond dippers in airport warning
An academic at Edge Hill University has issued a health warning against the Government’s planned expansion at Heathrow Airport based on analysis of lakes.
l Annie Worsley, Edge Hill University, email Worsleya@edgehill.ac.uk

Heated Parliamentary debate on Heathrow
A heated debate in the House of Commons centred on air quality and noise aspects of the Heathrow expansion decision announced in January (AQB February p5).

Unitary arrangements slowly take shape
A handful of authorities are going unitary from 1st of April.

LAPC unpicked in latest review
Local authority pollution control statistics are revealed in the latest statistics for England and Wales.
l More details of the survey on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/

Kensington wins apology over duff data
Kensington and Chelsea Council has hit back at Defra officials who have accused the council of not properly inspecting Part B premises, which include dry cleaners, petrol stations and paint sprayers.

Guidance manual amendment out
The local authority pollution control General guidance manual has been updated.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/guidance/manuals.htm

10-step plan for consultants
Performance of private sector consultants carrying out consultation for local authority review and assessments has been studied by the University of the West of England. New guidance is proposed.
l Environmental consultancies: Mediating consultation: Private sector consultancies engagement in air quality consultation can be downloaded freely at: www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/Mediating_Consultation

Planning permission no bar to nuisance
A decision in the High Court has reaffirmed that an injunction can be an appropriate remedy for nuisance even if planning permission has been obtained for the activity.
l Watson v.Croft: email AQB for a copy of the decision

Odours: £7,000 fine
The operators of a Cumnock landfill site have been fined £7,000 following a significant number of public complaints regarding odours at the site.
l www.sepa.org.uk

Better regulation?
A series of briefing notes have been released over the past few months by the better regulation office aimed at local authority regulators.
l The new local performance framework: LBRO briefing for local authority regulatory services, Applying the regulators’ compliance code and enforcement concordat and the survey conducted for the Local Better Regulation Office can be viewed on www.lbro.org.uk

EIC supports LEZ
Commenting Mayor of London’s announcement on the suspension of the next phase of the London low emission zone, the Environmental Industries Commission has warned that public health could be put at risk.

Trucks cause damage
Lorries cause far more environmental damage and congestion than previously thought, claims European green lobby group T&E.
l Are trucks taking their toll? www.transportenvironment.org/tag/noise/news/

Rushlight win
Connaught Engineering has won the recent Rushlight Awards with its idea of using large capacitors and an auxiliary motor to capture spare energy in van engines via the fan belt (AQB December 2008 p3).
l The Rushlight Awards 2008 Year Book has just been completed and is now available on www.rushlightawards.co.uk

Vitamin D study
A study into the links between air pollution and vitamin D deficiency, and their impact on the respiratory health of children in east London, has received a £1.2 million grant from the National Institute for Health Research comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre.

Volatile correction model report out
The methodology behind the ERG Kings College London volatile correction model for correcting Teom readings has been published. a national scale.
l Volatile Correction Model (VCM) for PM10 Application to hourly time resolution and AURN FDMS purge measurements, David Green, Timothy Baker and Gary Fuller can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Dual fuel order
Alternative fuel specialist Clean Air Power has received an order from Sainsburys for five Genesis dual-fuel installations in trucks.
l More details www.cleanairpower.com

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February 2009 news

£3.3bn for doing nothing
The UK Government is proposing to argue its way out of air quality exceedences rather than mitigate them. By doing nothing, it will reap benefits of £3.3bn, it claims.
l Consultation on the draft UK notification to the European Commission to secure additional time to meet the limit values for particulate matter for certain zones/agglomerations in accordance with the Council Directive 2008/50/EC on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe can be viewed on
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/air-quality/index.htm

Planning Bill: little scrutiny for Heathrow?
New consultation is adding detail to huge changes to the planning system resulting from the 2008 Planning Act.
l www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/consultationstatutoryconsultees

UK in the dock
UK publication of it’s plans to meet the PM10 directive by 2011 (see news, left) came too late to avoid legal action from the European Commission. The UK was supposed to have reported by last October.

Advice ignored on duff data
Defra has ignored advice to await further expert comment on dodgy gravimetric particle monitoring data and gone ahead and adjusted PM10 data.
l Analysis of trends in gravimetric particulate mass measurements in the UK can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports

2008 air quality worsens, says indicator
There was a slight worsening in urban pollution, and a marked worsening in rural pollution in 2008 as compared to 2007, Defra has revealed in its provisional air quality indicator.
l The indicator can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/news/2009/090129a.htm

Olympic body is not pushing traps, says EIC
The Environmental Industries Commission has renewed its plea for more take up of particle traps.
l website www.eic-uk.co.uk

LEZ in tatters as stage three scrapped
The London low emission zone has been massively weakened with mayor Boris Johnson abandoning the third phase of the low emission zone. The third phase would have seen low emission controls stretching down to vans.

Biofuels found mostly good
Uptake of biofuels – under most scenarios – leads to a reduction in pollutant emissions.
l Road transport emissions from biofuel consumption in the UK can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports

‘Auld Reekie’ plea from Edinburgh
The City of Edinburgh Council is urging residents not to burn too much wood.

IPPC progresses directive revamp
The European Parliament Environment Committee is suggesting a further tightening of industrial regulation, but proposals still have a long way to go before they become finally agreed.

Scottish plan
The Scottish Government has published its Good places, better health implementation plan.
l Lorraine Tulloch, project manager tel: 0131 244 2504

Bus grant changes
A decision has been made on the future of the fuel subsidy given to bus operators.
l www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/busgrants/
bsog/busserviceoperatorsgrantbsog3542

Hitchcock to Exeter
The University of Exeter has appointed Dr Guy Hitchcock as head of its Centre for Energy and the Environment. Hitchcock takes over from Trevor Preist.

Northern Ireland AQ
10 of Northern Ireland’s 26 district councils have air quality management areas in place, a new report by AEA on 2007 air quality reveals.
l Air pollution in Northern Ireland 2007 can be viewed on www.airqualityni.co.uk

Acid deposition
The third annual data report on the UK Acid Deposition Monitoring Network has been released. It contains a comprehensive summary of the measurements made in the network for the year 2007. Among other things it notes a slight rise in particulate sulphate in 2007 as compared to 2006.
l UK acid deposition monitoring network – data summary 2007 can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports

The environment in your pocket 2008
The twelfth edition of The environment in your pocket has been published by Defra.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/eiyp/index.htm

Crunch time at Heathrow
Our seven page feature on the air quality issues at Heathrow

Too much news!
Heathrow expansion, with its huge implications for air quality, dominates news this month in AQB. News and research bumped out of this issue will appear next month.

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January 2009 news (2008 index included with this edition)

Legal threat mounts
The Knightsbridge Association is warning the Government that it may launch a legal challenge on poor air quality. A similar challenge mounted by a German resident against Munich City succeeded in European courts.

Infringement proceedings being prepared
The European Commission is preparing infringement proceedings against the UK.

Defra admits slippage
For the first time Defra has admitted slippage on tackling air quality.

News from the AAMG particles meeting held in London

Kobe justifies slow progress
European Commission air quality chief Andrej Kobe has admitted progress on air quality in Europe has not been as fast as hoped.

Way forward sought for mercury monitoring
Richard Brown of NPL described actions in Europe to try and agree monitoring of mercury concentrations.

Fairmode modelling thinktank kicks off
Fairmode, a pan European modelling grouping, has had its first meeting in Croatia.

News from the investigation of air pollution standing conference (iapsc) last month

Data loss: correction explained
Total loss of two years worth of EU-equivalent data will be patched up through ‘data correction’, it has emerged.

Manchester monitors establish road fall-off
Manchester postgrad Anna Leavey told the Iapsc audience of work using handheld particle monitors to establish the fall off of particles beside busy roads.

More detail emerges on flexibility
Defra air quality expert Robert Vaughan confirmed to the Iapsc audience the latest thinking on how the UK will apply for ‘compliance flexibility’ on air quality deadlines

European performance compared
A paper has compared air quality reporting progress across member states.
l Reporting on ambient air quality assessment: Preliminary results for 2007 ETC/ACC technical paper 2008/4 December 2008 can be viewed on http://air-climate.eionet. europa.eu/reports/ETCACC_TP2008_2_AQQ2006

EEA indicators update
The European Environment Agency has updated four key air pollution indicators
l Concentrations of air pollutants in urban areas http://themes.eea.europa.eu/ IMS/ISpecs/ISpecification20080701123452/IAssessment1219309276318/view_content

Epuk ponders chartered body role
Epuk is seeking views on whether there is demand for members to become chartered environmentalists.

Carbon minimonitor
At the recent AAMG particles meeting held in London last month, Air Monitors’ Steven Hoskins demonstrated the latest in miniaturised black carbon monitors.
l www.airmonitors.co.uk

Thermo filters recall
Thermo has contacted customers and UK monitoring network managers telling them of problems with Teom filters.
l Colin Craggs, Thermo, tel 07778 234173

AQB yardstick: slight worsening
 It shows that pollution slightly worsened in 2008 compared to 2007 because of increased ozone exceedences (nearly twice as many).

Cold weather brings on moderate episode
Between 2nd and 5th January ERG’s London air quality network reported a moderate air pollution incident.
l www.londonair.org.uk

Cement industry pleased with emissions
The UK cement industry says it has met its designated emissions target three years ahead of schedule.
l The report is available from the BCA or can be downloaded from www.cementindustry.co.uk

Yet more Teom turmoil
If you thought the Teom FDMS had solved long running concerns over particle measurement, think again, suggests Jack Pease

Biomass bluster
A freedom of information request has revealed the intense pressure put on Scottish Government, local authorities and consultant AEA to gloss over air quality problems with biomass.

NO2 fails to fall
NOx emissions may be falling, but NO2 concentrations at the roadside are not

Passing on the problem
Pollution may cause genetic damage – but what if it can be passed on to our children, asks Jack Pease
l Air pollution and mutations in the germline: are humans at risk? Christopher M. Somers and David N. Cooper was published online last month in Human Genetics, www.springerlink.com

LTP3 guidance
The Government has released a consultation on draft guidance for Local Transport Plans (LTPs) – so called LTP3.
l www.dft.gov.uk/ltp

Wales consults
Wales is consulting on the shape of guidance for local air quality management guidance for reviews and assessments.
l http://new.wales.gov.uk/consultations/environment/localairmanagement/?lang=en

California hits trucks
The Californian Air Resources has adopted two regulations directly aimed at cleaning up emissions from the estimated one million heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in the state.
l www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2008/truckbus08/truckbus08.htm

European cuts too
European Parliament has agreed Euro VI limits for new lorries and buses sold in Europe from 2012-13.

Inventory consultation
The Environment Agency is consulting on the shape of its emissions inventory.
l Consultation on England and Wales Pollution Invent ory 2009 to 2011 can be viewed on www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/ documents/Pollution_Inventory_Consultation_v9.pdf

Biomass bung
The Government has set aside £12 million to help expand biomass heating in England Grants are being made available for industry, businesses and community organisations to help towards the cost of buying and installing biomass-fuelled heating and combined heat & power projects.
l More details www.bioenergycapitalgrants.org.uk

New research centre
A new centre has been set up to help the Government understand natural and environmental risk.
l www.cranfield.ac.uk

Modelling resources
The European Environment Agency has reviewed modelling tools able to simulate future change at a European scale.
l Technical report No 11/2008 can be viewed on http://reports.eea.europa.eu/technical_report_2008_11/en

Boost for Birmingham
Professor Jon Ayres, chairman of Comeap, has become Professor of Environmental and Respiratory Medicine in the University of Birmingham. He was previously at Aberdeen. The University of Birmingham is recruiting candidates for posts in environmental health sciences with a proven research track record in air pollution and health.
l For further information, see www.vacancies.bham.ac.uk/vacancies

PVR2 sees VOC recovery at the pumps
The European Commission renewed efforts to clamp down on harmful volatile organic compound (VOC) leakage from petrol retail forecourts.
l http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/transport/petrol.htm

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December 2008

Technical guidance nears
New technical guidance should be finalised before Christmas – but it will not include fully automated income tax-style online reporting.

Scottish biomass report lowers air impacts
Estimates of air quality impacts from wood burning boilers have been slashed in the latest study carried out by AEA for the Scottish Government.

BAA promises to stick to limits
A Government announcement on whether it will support expansion at Heathrow is now due in January. Compliance with NO2 limits near the airport is a major constraint on the expansion.

Emission factors: more delays
DfT has still not finalised emission factors that underpin future air quality estimates.

DMRB screening method revisions held up
Long awaited revisions to the Highways Agency DMRB screening method are held up because of delays to DfT’s emission factors (see news above).

Autumn statement and Queen’s Speech: few new environmental initiatives
There have been few environmental surprises in the Chancellor’s pre Budget report which flags up what taxation changes are due next year.

Dust complaints suppressed
Epuk has expressed disappointment that the Planning Bill has been passed with clauses that will limit the ability to complain about dust and noise nuisance.

London sees green policy U-turns
Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a series of policy changes affecting air quality and the environment.

Early winter episode hits London
There has been a pollution episode in south eastern England following a relatively ‘clean’ year.
l www.londonair.org.uk

Thin air at GLA
GLA’s air quality team are recruiting.

Hybrid cuts emissions
A novel hybrid system has been developed that is claimed to cut emissions.
l www.connaughtengineering.com

Comeap endorses WHO findings
Comeap has scrutinised World Health Organisation conclusions on child health and agree that they apply to the UK

Dust in west Wales
The Welsh Air Quality Forum report that there have been dust deposits in Pembrokeshire on the evening of Sunday 28 September.
l The Welsh Air Quality Forum website www.welshairquality.co.uk

Please use ‘wellbeing’ powers
Councils have failed to use an obscure legal power that could be used to aid the environment in their area.
l www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/evaluationwellbeingpower

Better regulation relaxes three sectors
Attempts to cut red tape from the regulation of 61 Part B local authority regulated LAPPC light industrial sectors has led to just three sectors being simplified to date.
l Regulation review of Part B activities can be viewed on
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/brr-partb-activities/index.htm

Notes updated
There is a second simultaneous consultation on plans to update Part B process guidance notes.
l Six-year review of process guidance notes for part B installations – can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/sixyear-review/index.htm

South Yorks’ Diva advertises London scheme
The London Airtext service is to use creative agency Diva to raise its profile. Diva is the agency behind the well respected South Yorks Care4Air campaign.
l www.airtext.info

Surrey councils agree
Surrey County Council has signed up to an agreement to cooperate on possible future development of Gatwick Airport.

Gravesham site
ERG has created a new industrial emissions website for Gravesham Borough Council. The site follows the same pattern of the Hillingdon’s emission site also run by ERG.
l Gravesham’s website www.erg.kcl.ac.uk/News.aspx?NewsId=Graveshamwebsite

Climate committee reports
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has urged the Government to commit unilaterally to reducing emissions of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the UK by at least 34% in 2020 relative to 1990 levels (21% relative to 2005).
l Building a low-carbon economy – the UK’s contribution to tackling climate change www.theccc.org.uk

Climate cuts give air quality benefits
A new study estimates that increasing EU emission reduction targets from 20% to 30% by 2020 could increase co-benefits between air quality and climate change worth between 6.5 and 25 billion Euros per year.
l The co-benefits to health of a strong EU climate change policy can be downloaded from: http://assets.panda.org/downloads/co_benefits_to_health_report__september_2008.pdf

NECD targets hit by transport emissions
The EU is set to exceed air pollutant limits due to growth in road transport.
l The finalised report can be viewed on http://tinyurl.com/57vxdf

Car makers cry help
Car makers are asking for Government help arguing it would help reduce emissions.
l www.acea.be

Biomass questions
MPs quizzed ministers in Parliament on what information Defra holds on trends in the level of sales of wood-burning stoves over the last 12 months; and what estimate ministers have made of the effect of such trends on emissions.

Unitary preparation
New regulations covering transition arrangements have been put in place for unitary councils due to be created in March 2009.

Airalert for Herts and Beds
 The Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Air Quality Network has launched an air texting alert service.
l More details of the service on www.airalert.info

Unscheduled bias
The national bias adjustment spreadsheet has just received an unscheduled update.
l www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/diffusiontube131108.xls

More hybrid buses
Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled a range of new, single and double deck, eco-friendly hybrid buses. Some 300 hybrid buses will be in operation by 2011.

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November 2008

£1.5m Teom spending spree
Defra has chosen Air Monitors to supply 70 Teom FDMS’s for the national air quality monitoring network. 35 are already in place, the rest will be installed by the end of the year.

Teom 1400 lives on
The old style 1400 Teom will continue to be available

More details emerge on Defra derogations
Speaking at the recent Epuk air quality update meeting held in Birmingham, Defra’s Jonathan Lartice revealed further details on how the Government intends to take forward ‘compliance flexibility’ – essentially a three year derogation from meeting the EU air quality directive.

Sanctions sought
The Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) is encouraging the European Commission to take the UK to court for failing to meet its air quality obligations.
l www.cleanairinlondon.org

Guidance nears on biomass installations
Ruth Calderwood of the City of London told the Epuk conference held in Birmingham about the development of guidance for biomass boilers.

Air quality Beacon year ends
The Beacon year is now over – but there is still some life in them yet, Sefton’s Gary Mahoney told the Epuk air quality update in Birmingham last month.

Agencies gears up for global warming
The Epuk conference in Birmingham last month heard how the Environment Agency is attempting to integrate climate change into industrial permitting.

All change – Shaw out, Hunt in
Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s recent Cabinet shake up sees air quality and noise minister Jonathan Shaw moving on. He had been in office for a year
l  www.decc.gov.uk

Agency solicits views on Monckton works
The Environment Agency is consulting directly with local residents to see whether they are happy with levels of nuisance emissions from the Royston Monckton Coke and Chemical site near Barnsley.

Camden welcomes portable fuel cell pack
Camden has revealed details of a hydrogen fuel cell generator which can be used to power roadside emissions testing equipment. It is offering to lend the equipment to other London boroughs. .
l Further details email gloria . esposito @ camden . gov . uk

Royal Society targets ozone ...
The Royal Society says ozone is a growing problem and that current emission controls are not enough to reduce concentrations.
l Ground-level ozone in the 21st century: future trends, impacts and policy implications http://royalsociety.org

..as WHO also notes need to work harder
The World Health Organisation’s European centre has produced a report on the health risks of ozone.
l Health risks of ozone from long-range transboundary air pollution www.euro.who.int

WHO prompt child exposure summary
WHO has set out a table of exposure of children to particle pollution.
l www.enhis.org

Monitors spread the message
Air Monitors has teamed up with Solus to provide a broadcasting system aimed at spreading air quality messages to the public.
l www.airmonitors.co.uk

Design guide launched for waste facilities
Guidance has been released on good design for waste facilities.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/facilities.htm

£10m for 100 low emission vehicles
£10m of funding from the Technology Strategy Board will be used to launch 100 ultra low carbon demonstration vehicles to be on roads by end of 2009.
l Further details available on the Technology Strategy Board website – www.innovateuk.org

Renewable fears from Epuk
Air quality issues have not been covered sufficiently, Epuk says in its response to the Government’s Renewable Energy Strategy consultation

Benn visits Epuk in Brighton
Environment minister Hilary Benn has visited Epuk in Brighton.

Fresh air walking for west London
West London is launching an internet site that suggests fresh air walking routes to encourage people to leave their cars at home.
l www.walkit.com/showcase    www.westlondonairquality.org.uk

Use more traps
Particle trap makers have come together to call on the Government to adopt guidance for local authorities to reduce emissions from construction and demolition sites.
l www.eic-uk.co.uk

Cranfield call
Next year’s Department of Health/HPA indoor and outdoor air pollution research workshop will be held at Cranfield University on 20-21 April.
l www.le.ac.uk/ieh

Electric potential
Cenex and Arup have recently completed a study of the scope of the UK transport sector to switch to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. This study considers a wide range of issues relevant to the development and roll out of electric vehicles.
l www.berr.gov.uk/files/file48653.pdf

Travelbuster launch
Epuk has launched a new online travel calculator to encourage kids to walk to school.
l www.travelbuster.org.uk

California gets tough
Californian legislators have proposed new rules to tackle truck emissions.
l www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrel.htm

Emissions report out
A new NAEI report presents the latest estimates of emissions to the atmosphere from the UK for the period 1970 to 2006.
l UK Emissions of air pollutants 1970 to 2006 can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

Climate challenge
As Beacons move on from air quality, the City of London is one of the authorities nominated as a climate beacon.

Ships cut emissions
The International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has agreed revised pollution limits for shipping.

More Heathrow woes
Opposition to the continued expansion of Heathrow is building up. US wood burners US wood stove makers have agreed to cuts in emissions.
l Further information www.epa.gov/woodheaters

Oldies for IAQM
The Institute of Air Quality Management has decided to accept fellowship applications.
l www.iaqm.co.uk

Data done
2006 1x1km CO2 emissions data is now available by local authority area. Also 2006 1x1km emissions data has been posted on the NAEI data warehouse.
l www.naei.org.uk

Fees set out for LAPC
Defra has outlined the level of charges that can be levied by councils for their industrial regulation activities.
l Consultation on local authority environmental regulation of industrial plant: 2009/10 fees and charges can be viewed on
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/localauth-plantfees09-10/index.htm

Biomass shift?
Allan Jones, appointed by former London Mayor Ken Livingstone to promote renewable energy on new developments through London Development Agency, has left his job.

Motorcycles tested
DfT has just released a 2004 report assessing the performance and exhaust emissions for motorcycles over three different emission drive cycles.
l Motorcycle exhaust emissions factors and test cycles programme: final report can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/ricardomotorcycleemissions.pdf

US lead tightened
The US has tightened its standard on lead.
l www.epa.gov/air/lead/actions.html

Good practice
The review and assessment website has recently been updated with a number of good practice examples of Round 3 progress reports and detailed assessments.
l More details on the review and assessment helpdesk website www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review

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October 2008

More monitor scrutiny
Bureau Veritas is coordinating efforts to get particle monitors Mcerts-approved. In the process, monitors may also gain EU equivalence.

Particle standard fears from Maynard
The Government’s senior air quality health advisor Bob Maynard has warned that the EU directive represents a watering down of standards and less protection than found in the US.

News from South Yorks' Care4Air conference held in Sheffield

New Defra man Vaughan makes his debut
Defra air quality specialist Robert Vaughan made his ‘debut’ speech at the Care4Air air quality conference held in Sheffield last month.

Air feeds into public health
The South Yorks Care4Air consortium last month held a conference highlighting how air quality is a key part of a wider public health message.

Environmental inequality: triple jeopardy
Environmental and health inequalities provide a ‘triple jeopardy’, claims NHS Sheffield public health director Jeremy Wright.

Pollutants for poverty
The Sheffield conference was shown a table rankings of income against the proportion of population in ‘high’ pollution areas.

Eco stars to cut emissions
A scheme is about to be launched in South Yorkshire aimed at cleaning up fleet operators operating into South Yorkshire.

Agency restates air quality policy
The Environment Agency has updated its eight-year-old air quality policy. It includes a stronger commitment to prevent air quality exceedences near industry.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/local/pdf/regulation-improve-air-qualitypdf.pdf

Epuk on trucks
Epuk is urging the Government to support EU proposals for tough air pollution limits on new trucks and buses.

Pollutants totted-up for regions
Emission inventories for key air pollutants have been published for the period 1990-2006 for the UK regions.
l Air quality pollutant inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2006 can be viewed on www.naei.org.uk/reports.php

AEA updates greenhouse gas inventory
AEA has updated its greenhouse gas inventory for the UK.
l Greenhouse gas inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990 – 2006 can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/ reports/list.php

Local climate emissions set out
The Government has published statistics for 2006 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at a local level.
l A summary, together with the full report and data tables are available from the e-Digest of Environmental Statistics on the Defra web site at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/galocalghg.htm

News from the EPUK Scotland’s conference held in Glasgow

Scotland goes its own way
Scottish local authorities work to tougher standards than their colleagues south of the border – but there is more money allocated from Scottish government.

Objection not always best policy
Objection is not always the best option for dealing with air quality concerns about major retail developments, Glasgow City Council air quality officer James Crawshaw told the conference.

Air quality importance grows for Glasgow
“Air quality is growing in importance for Glasgow,” Alastair Brown, air quality chief of Glasgow City Council said as he opened Epuk Scotland’s air quality conference last month.

Breakaway forum?
Scottish air quality experts are considering setting up a separate Scottish Air Quality Forum. It will mirror the UK air quality forum run by Defra.

Burners are back in the news
A spate of incinerators are being planned or approved across the UK as local authorities rush to meet landfill targets.
l Well disposed: responding to the waste challenge can be viewed on www.audit-commission.gov.uk

Government tries to reassure on planning
The Government has tried to justify its attempts to exempt major infrastructure projects against nuisance claims. Epuk has highlighted the issue that dust and noise complaints during construction of major projects and during use will be disallowed according a clause in the Planning Bill.

London air is worst in Europe
The European Commission has carried out a “health check” on 321 European cities. Based on annual average NO2, London is the most polluted city.

Westminster revamps action plan
Westminster City Council – the first to declare an air quality management area, and first to complete its action plan – is carrying out a pre-consultation on an action plan revamp.
l Developing a new air quality strategy and action plan – consultation of issues can be viewed on www.westminster.gov.uk/publications/publications_detail.cfm?ID=3405

Cycle couriers struggle with bad air
The developer of an air pollution mask system says ambient air pollution in London can affect the performance of healthy cyclists.
l www.purebreathe.com

Early take on guidance revamp consultation
Early indications suspect broad support for AQ guidance revamp

Helping to cut taxi emissions
A west London council has set out a best practice guide for reducing taxi emissions
l A best practice guide for reducing emission from taxis in London, TRL report no PPR349 is available from TRL  01344 328038

Ecodriving boost
Motorists are to be advised on how to drive in a way that saves money, saves fuel and cuts emissions in changes introduced into the practical driving test.
l www.dft.gov.uk/actonco2

Ammonia logged
A device which can detect levels of ambient ammonia quicker than traditional methods is being marketed by Enviro Technology.
l Enviro Technology www.et.co.uk

LEZ for market town?
A low emission zone is one option being considered for Chipping Norton.

New gas probe
Monitor firm Enviro Technology has added the Teledyne 200EU photolytic gas analyser to its list of instruments.
l www.et.co.uk

Incinerator web map
The UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) website has a new facility – a clickable map of the UK with existing and potential incinerator sites, and information about local campaign groups.
l www.ukwin.org.uk

London advised
Months after Boris Johnson took office, the London Mayor now has an environmental advisor, Isabel Dedring

Biomethane trials
Two trials of biomethane-powered vehicles began over the summer, reports Epuk, which manages the biomethane working group.
l www.biomethane.org.uk

Heathrow inequalities
A decision on expansion at Heathrow is set to be delayed until the end of the year at earliest while the Government carries out an equality impact assessment of the proposals.
l www.dft.gov.uk/heathrowconsultation

Tube update
A number of changes have taken place to the diffusion tube database since the last release in April 2008, UWE’s air quality helpdesk has reported.
l To download the latest version (v.09/08) please follow this link: www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/diffusiontube300908.xls

Agency on carbon
The Environment Agency has thrown its weight behind the need to introduce carbon capture at new coal fired power stations.

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September 2008

2008 website review click here for full pdf

Air trumps climate at DfT
DfT is consulting on the European Commission proposal for a new heavy-duty vehicle emission standard (Euro VI). Significantly, air quality appears to have won against climate change in a hard-fought battle.
l www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/euroviconsultation/

Cerc air quality data pulled by Chinese
Chinese authorities slapped a ban on Cerc’s air quality forecasting system during the Olympic games, it has emerged.
l www.beijingairquality.cn

UK set to delay
Confirmation has been given that the UK will extend compliance dates for EU air quality directives – first on PM10, and later with NO2.
l Consultation on UK report regarding plans and programmes to meet EU air quality limit values (reporting year 2006) can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/air-limitvalues2006/index.htm

Bristol Barnes
Jo Barnes, formerly with the Cornwall Air Quality Forum at Cornwall College, has joined the UWE Air Quality Management Resource Centre, Bristol.

Planning bill will cut nuisance rights
A minor clause inserted into the Planning Bill could take away the right to complain about dust and other nuisances arising from large projects.

Wales steelworks ‘action’ plan
More talking, more studies and more ‘consideration’ are the central planks of a Welsh action plan prepared for the Europe.
l http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/ airqualitypollution/swalesaction/?lang=en

Agency improves the air in AQMAs
The Highways Agency’s 2007/2008 annual report says that its air quality targets have been met.
l www.highways.gov.uk

Newcastle tackles home fires burning
Newcastle environmental health officers are visiting homes and businesses throughout the borough in a bid to improve air quality.

Low emission zone review
A TfL report sets out early impacts of the London low emission zone. It is also intends to set a baseline to assess future impacts.
l Low emission zone impacts monitoring baseline report www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/about/2027.aspx

Congestion charge progress detailed by TfL
An updated impacts report on the London congestion charge continues to find minimal air quality impacts.
l Central London congestion charging scheme impacts monitoring – sixth annual report: July 2008 can be viewed on www.tfl.gov.uk/ assets/downloads/sixth-annual-impacts-monitoring-report-2008-07.pdf

Somerset get together
A draft air quality strategy has been produced by all of Somerset’s councils and sets out how air quality fits into planning, transport and land use throughout the county.
l www.somerset.gov.uk/con sultation (click on air quality)

Emission control costs
A study has costed vehicle NOx controls and estimated impacts on CO2 and primary NO2 emissions.
l www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/co2no2emissions.pdf

Mendip smoke fine
A Mendip businessman has been fined £4,000 by magistrates for illegal bonfires in Frome.

Europe assesses exposure
The European Environment Agency has calculated the percentage of the urban population in EEA-32 potentially exposed to pollutant concentrations over selected limit/target values.
l http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/atlas/viewdata/viewpub.asp?id=3133

Transport dominates
The European Environment Agency says road transport remains the key source of NOx, CO and non-methane volatile organic compounds and the second-most important source of fine particulate emissions (PM10 and PM2.5) in the EU-27.
l Data in the report will be made available through the EEA’s Dataservice later in 2008. website http://reports. eea.europa.eu/ technical_report_2008_7/en

Real vehicles tested
In service cars and vans which have passed MOT tests have been retested in a lab to see if their emissions meet standards.
l In-service vehicle testing programme 2007-08 www. dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/inservicetesting/inservicetesting0708

Asthma exercise
In a recent Asthma UK survey, 76% of people with asthma reported that exercise triggers their asthma.

AB Teom withdrawn
Teom maker Thermo has announced withdrawal of the Teom 1400AB.
l www.rpco.com/discontinue/index.htm

Going unitary
Nine applications for unitary status in 2009 have been successful.

Farm code
Defra is consulting on the revised Code of good agricultural practice to protect water, soil and air quality. It covers items such as minimising ammonia emissions.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/cogap-rev/index.htm

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August 2008

Features this month:
Air Quality Grant: winners count their luck: we rank the winners and losers and ask what is being done with the money

2008 guidance arrives: New policy and technical guidance is proposed for consultation – what changes will it provoke, asks Jack Pease

Just one takes air challenge
Just one local authority – the City of London – has chosen to adopt air quality as a local target.
l More details www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localgovindicators/index.htm

Emission factors released (at last)
Long awaited updated emission factors have been released by DfT for consultation.
l The consultation documents can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/consultvehicleemission/

Teoms corrected
Teom measurements can now be corrected online.
l www.volatile-correction-model.info

Deadline for PM10 exemptions
The European Commission has set a deadline of 31st October 2008 for member states to submit applications for extensions to PM10 deadlines.
l http://europa.eu/rapid/press ReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1112&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&gui0Language=en#fn2

Sting in the tale for derogation
Applying for a derogation for poor air quality could have a sting in its tale, warns the Campaign for Clean Air in London.
l Campaign website: www.cleanairinlondon.org

Councils hit by NOx-eating hype
Councils are being targeted by firms trying to sell NOX -eating coatings to improve air quality. Some recipients of a mailshot are concerned that local authorities may install the coatings and be disappointed with the outcome.
l www.cleanaircampaign.co.uk

Trade associations argue on plant emissions
Trade associations are arguing over the need to tackle off road emissions from construction plant.

Probe demanded into monitoring flaws
The Campaign for Clean Air in London (CAiL) has called for an investigation into Defra monitoring problems that has jeopardised years of gravimetric particle data (AQB July p1).
l www.cleanairinlondon.org

Diffusion tube preparation analysed
Air Quality Consultants has carried out an exhaustive analysis of diffusion tube preparation techniques.
l Analysis of factors influencing diffusion tube performance can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

Compendium of indicators released
Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2008 has been released.
l Weblink: www.sustainable-development.gov.uk.

Norwich agrees LEZ for buses
A low emission zone – the first UK zone outside London – is being introduced in Norwich.

Biomass fears recognised in new strategy
The Government has unveiled its renewable energy strategy promising a huge increase in commitment to alternative energy such as wind and biomass.
l http://renewableconsultation.berr.gov.uk/

Biofuel backdown
The Government is adopting a more modest target for use of biofuels as a result of a new report listing emerging evidence on the impact on world food markets and concerns about sustainable sourcing.

Biomass guidance
AEA has completed its screening guidance for biomass boilers. technical guidance.
l Screening assessment for biomass boilers www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/cat18/0806261519_methods.pdf

Glasgow fire all-clear
Daily PM10 objectives were not breached following a large fire at a scrap metal merchant in Renfrew last month.
l www.scottishairquality.co.uk/reports.php?item=217

Ashtead buys in
Equipment supplier and rental firm Ashtead Technology Ltd has been subject to a management buyout for £95.6m from Ashtead Group plc.
l website www.ashtead-technology.com

All change in London
As planned, the London low emission zone now includes lorries over 3.5 tonnes, buses and coaches in the penalty charge scheme.

Late ozone alert
There has been an ozone alert – the first this year, rather late because of wet weather so far this year.

£100,000 bill
Cement campaigner Lillian Pallikaropoulos is facing a bill of over £100,000 following her failure in the High Court to revoke the Rugby plant’s permit.

Bodmin blues
North Cornwall District Council is declaring Bodmin Town Centre an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), and will introduce measures to reduce air pollution and improve air quality.

Beacon cash
16 Beacon councils – including Greenwich – will share £1.5m for

EEB slams delays
European environmental group EEB claims the National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive), which was expected to undergo revision in 2008, has been put on hold for an undetermined period by the European Commission.

Luton alert
Luton is to adopt the Airalert service pioneered by Sussex authorities. Luton’s text, email and phone air quality alerting service will be jointly provided by Sussex-air and King’s College London (ERG).
l www.sussex-air.net

Waste fuels given all clear
Waste fuel burning in cement kilns will not create a significant health risk, believes Comeap.
l Statement on the use of substitute fuels in cement works can be viewed on www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/statementsreports/cement-kilns-statement.pdf

Rushlight call
Entries are being sought for the Rushlight Awards for environmental technologies and innovations 2008.
l Awards website www.rushlightawards.co.uk

Heathrow later
A decision on expansion at Heathrow will not now take place until later this year. Further studies have been ordered into environmental equality aspects of the expansion.

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July 2008

PM data unreliable
Recent years of UK particle data may be fundamentally wrong.
l Monitoring networks analysis of trends in gravimetric particulate mass measurements in the UK by Richard Maggs et al, and Defra’s letter Analysis of trends in particulate matter in the UK: measurement issues can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

Joined up warning to Government
A clutch of environmental groups have joined together in a bid to discourage the Government from applying for a derogation from EU air quality laws.

Gong for Pilling
Leeds University’s Professor Mike Pilling, outgoing chairman of the Air Quality Expert Group, has received a CBE

Directive published
The new European Union Directive on ambient air quality has now entered into force. The directive was finally agreed earlier this year (AQB May p1) and simply needed to be published as its final stage.
l The directive can be viewed on http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:152:0001:0044:EN:PDF

Air quality consultancies ranked
Air Quality Bulletin has contacted key consultants in the UK air quality market. We asked the question “how many full time-equivalent people work on UK air quality consultancy but excluding technical and support staff”?

News from the recent Iapsc meeting held in London

DMRB runs late – factors blamed
The long running update of the DMRB air quality screening model should be ready by the end of the year, the Highways Agency’s Michele Hackman told IAPSC.

Agency disagrees with councils on AQMAs
The Highways Agency air quality specialist Michele Hackman told Iapsc delegates of recent Agency initiatives. One shock finding is that the Agency disbelieves nearly half of all road-prompted air quality management areas (AQMAs).

Guidance soon on crushing triviality
Jonathan Lartice, Defra air quality expert, told Iapsc that guidance will soon be issued on small mobile crushers.

Technical guidance due soon
More details have emerged on technical guidance that is set to be released for consultation imminently.

Buncefield: could do better
The Environment Agency is being funded to set up an emergency air quality response capability.

Networks did pick up Buncefield plume
The London and south east England monitoring network proved crucial in picking up plume grounding from the Buncefield fire, Gary Fuller of ERG told the recent Iapsc conference.

Highways Agency tries real time sensing
The Highways Agency’s Michele Hackman revealed that the Agency is cooperating with a multi-disciplinary project to develop real time emissions sensing. The project aims to create a new sensing infrastructure based on a combination of ad-hoc mobile and fixed sensors.
l www.message-project.org

NOx eating barrier for Manchester route
The Highways Agency has shown off its new ‘Noxer’ barrier being installed on the M60 near Manchester. It features NOx reducing paint on a concrete noise barrier – corrugations offering up more surface area of reactant.

London LEZ toughens
The second phase of the London low emission zone starts next week.

Final low emission guidance released
The final version of the consultation on new guidance for use of low emission strategies has been launched
l The report is available from cenex  www.cenex.co.uk

Defra consults on European IPPC ‘greybits’
Defra is seeking comments on proposed changes to the European Commission’s proposed Directive on Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) (Recast).
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/emissions-greybits/

Bristol trials Trafficbox
Enviro Technology, working in partnership with Bristol City Council, has installed a Trafficbox compact air quality monitoring system in Bristol’s Old Market for evaluation purposes.
l www.et.co.uk

RCEP to continue
Defra will continue to support the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, it has said in its response to a review of the group.
l Copies of the review report and the government response can be downloaded from the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk/environment/rcep/review2006-07.htm

Vaughan vaults in
The replacement for Defra air quality expert Sarah Dudgeon is Robert Vaughan.

Jersey air scrutiny
A scrutiny panel looking at delays in implementing air quality action in Jersey has blamed an unclear division of responsibilities.
l www.scrutiny.gov.je

Airport review
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly today called for evidence for its review into the economic regulation of airports.
l www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/airports/reviewregulationukairports

Best cars named
The Toyota Yaris has been named Green Car of the Year 2008 by the Environmental Transport Association. The least-green car is the 8-litre Dodge SRT-10 sports car.
l The car buyers’ guide is at www.eta.co.uk

Lincs biomass plan
Energy minister Malcolm Wicks has given the go ahead to Helius Energy to build a 65 MW biomass power station near Stallingborough in North East Lincolnshire.

Odour workshop
The Composting Association (soon to become the Association for Organics Recycling) is running four free workshops jointly with the Environment Agency. The first will be held in Birmingham on Wednesday 9 July.
l www.compost.org.uk

Manchester charge
The Government will invest £2.8 billion across Greater Manchester – if it adopts a peak time congestion charge.
l More details are available www.gmfuturetransport.co.uk

Walking guidance
Guidance has been released on producing maps to help walking and reduce pollution.
l Guidance and research on producing walking maps can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/walking/maps.pdf

AEA buys US firm
AEA has bought Project Performance Corporation for £33m. The US firm is an IT outfit which does environmental database work for the US Government. AEA hopes there will be synergies between its UK emissions inventory, climate change and energy efficiency expertise with work in the States. It will fund the acquisition with a rights issue.
l www.aeat.com

Lighthouse added
Air Monitors has added a “Lighthouse” to its product portfolio.
l www.airmonitors.co.uk

Southwell for Thermo
Roger Southwell has joined Thermo’s Air Quality Instrument (AQI) division.

Taxi clean up
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced funding of £1m to trial low carbon technology in London’s taxi fleet.

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June 2008 

Web reporting soon says Defra
Defra has revealed that next year local authorities will be able to submit their updating and screening assessments and progress reports (but not detailed assessments) online.

Airport contribution lifts local ultrafines
Los Angeles airport lifts concentrations of ultrafine particles in the locality, say US researchers.

Biomass plea fails
Protesters against a huge biomass plant in Port Talbot have lost their High Court challenge against the plans.

News from the annual aEA air quality and forecasting conference held in London

2007 episodes explained
AEA’s Paul Willis told the forecasting conference about forecasting accuracy in 2007.

Cerc in Olympic forecasting push
Consultant Cerc is helping the Chinese authorities provide air quality forecasts for the Olympic games.
l www.cerc.co.uk/ DRAGON2.pdf

Emergency role for EA?
At last month’s air quality forecasting conference held in London, it emerged the Environment Agency may be given a role for monitoring smoke during emergencies.

Network changes
Defra’s Janet Dixon also updated the forecasting conference on the progress of changes to the national monitoring network. Many changes are being implemented to comply with the new air quality directive.

Generators not to blame, say generators
Power stations should not be blamed as a major source of air quality health effects, Steve Griffiths of power generator Eon has told the forecasting conference. Eon cooperates with other generators for modelling.

Open source key to transparency
Open source (ie free) statistical analysis software could avoid allegations that data is being manipulated, Leeds University’s David Carslaw has argued.
 

Profits seized from crusher firm
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s environmental health officers claim they are the first in Wales to use the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the money received by a firm carrying out illegal crushing.

Report demands more industrial monitoring
New, cheaper and more accurate ambient air quality monitors could reduce uncertainty in modelling, a report produced by Westlakes for the Environment Agency concludes.
l Integration of air quality modelling and monitoring methods: review and applications can be viewed on http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO0308BOAE-e-e.pdf

Green Government targets missed
A new report by the thinktank Policy Exchange claims that the Government will miss over half of the green targets it has set since 1997.

Boris takes London: the pledges
Last month Boris Johnson became London Mayor, replacing Ken Livingstone.

LEZs do make a difference
Emissions expert Lucy Sadler has refuted an assertion in last month’s AQB that low emission zones in Scandinavia prompted by road dust are not cost effective.

Extend machinery guidance, pleads EIC
The Environmental Industries Commission has asked the Government to extend London guidance on off-road construction plant to the rest of the UK.
l www.eic-uk.co.uk

Chris Smith is chair
(Lord) Chris Smith is taking over from Sir John Harman as chairman of the Environment Agency.

AEF highlights aviation impacts
Protest group the Aviation Environment Federation says it has unearthed data from an unpublished report that highlights the impact of airport expansion.
l www.aef.org.uk

UWE recruits
The UWE air quality management Resource Centre is looking for a replacement for Johanna Symons who is leaving AQMRC to return to her native New Zealand.
l The advert can be viewed on http://info.uwe.ac.uk/vacancies/jobdetails.asp?ref=RAF/AQMRWS

New site for Airalert
ERG has created a new website for Sussex’s Airalert air quality warning service.
l  www.airalert.info

EPA leads on lead
The US Environmental Protection Agency is considering toughening up lead standards.
l www.epa.gov/air/lead

In Parliament
Lord Dykes asked the Government whether, following the Environment Agency’s concerns on air pollution, it will cancel the third runway at Heathrow airport?

LEZ and fire ban for Glasgow?
Glasgow has updated its air quality action plan. It rejects congestion charging and car clubs, but will aim for a low emission zone and bonfire ban.

Tyrrell heads Grimm UK
The German dust analyser company Grimm Aerosol Technik has opened up a new UK division Grimm Aerosol UK Ltd. in Northampton.
l Grimm Aerosol UK, Chris Tyrrell email ct@grimm-aerosol.com

Power stations could cut emissions
NOX and SOX from power stations could have been considerably lower in 2004, says the European Environment Agency.
l Air pollution from electricity-generating large combustion plants www.eea.europa.eu

CEMS manager for ET
Phil Battye has become CEMS engineering manager at Enviro Technology.

European attainment of emission ceilings: deadlines missed
Preliminary analysis of data reported under the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC directive) by member states at the end of 2007 indicates that more countries anticipate missing one or more of their legally-binding 2010 emission ceilings compared to last year.
l NEC Status preliminary results 2008 data can be viewed on www.eea.europa.eu

Summer smog
2008’s first summer smog warning was issued in May. High levels of ozone were forecast for England and Scotland.

Notts notice
The Environment Agency has issued Nottingham’s Eastcroft municipal waste incinerator with an enforcement notice and formal warning.

Defra admits slippage
Defra has admitted that it is slipping on meeting air quality targets.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2008/index.htm

2007 ozone down
Ozone levels during last year’s damp summer were the lowest in a decade, the European Environment Agency has recorded.
l Air pollution by ozone across Europe during summer 2007 http://reports.eea.europa.eu/technical_report_2008_5/

Aqeg pronounces on ozone
The Air Quality Expert Group (Aqeg) has rounded off the first phase of its existence by drafting a report on ozone. Aqeg sets out scientific evidence to inform UK control strategies for ozone (despite most precursors coming from elsewhere).

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May 2008

Bad odour hits Dunbar
A cement works has been issued with an enforcement notice because of bad smells caused by plume grounding. Despite the strength of the odour, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) says health limits are not being breached.

‘Europong’ wafts in from Europe
There was a widely reported ‘bad odour’ event over England last month.

Directive agreed
The new European air quality directive has finally been adopted after years of discussion. It replaces the previous framework directive and daughter directives.
l The Directive can be found on
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/07/st03/st03696-re01.en07.pdf

Rugby cement Lords appeal fails
Rugby protesters have lost their appeal in the House of Lords against waste burning at the cement plant.
l The appeal decision can be viewed on www.richardbuxton.co.uk/v3.0/?q=view/alltranscripts

Burn more waste wood, Government urges
The Government is encouraging burning of waste wood.
l Waste wood information report www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/woodwaste.htm

News from 11th Institute of Environment and Health meeting held at cranfield

Waste fuels: ‘dread’ terms
Patrick Saunders of the Health Protection Agency outlined to the IEH conference the problems of communicating to the public that burning of waste in cement kilns should lead to no increased health effects.

No effect found for congestion charge
London researchers have found the congestion charge has had little effect on air pollution concentrations.

IEH Cranfield round up: smoking cuts PM2.5
The newly-implemented smoking ban has cut indoor air quality levels to that found outside, Sean Semple of Aberdeen University told delegates at the IEH meeting.

Metrics compared
Researchers have listed various pollution metrics side by side in a bid to see which is most likely to cause health effects.

IEH website revamp
The Institute of Environment and Health has revamped its website. Proceedings from past meetings can be downloaded www.cranfield.ac.uk/Health/ResearchAreas/EnvironmentHealth/IEH/page19562.jsp

London emitters pushed out
With the London low emission zone now over two months old, evidence suggests the number of non-compliant vehicles is falling.

Court upholds London emissions decision
Transport for London (TfL) has won a legal challenge against pollution equipment maker Eco-Power after a decision to withdraw approval of a modified emission reduction system.

Off-road emission scheme finalised
The Mayor of London has launched an accreditation scheme to encourage construction and demolition sites to cut harmful exhaust emissions.

Controls mooted for shipping
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) looks set to impose caps on sulphur in shipping fuels later this year.

Comeap given clean bill of health
A Government audit of the work of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (Comeap) has given it a glowing report.
l www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap

Agency rated in Hampton review
“Better regulation” within the Environment Agency has been assessed in a new review.
l Effective inspection and enforcement: implementing the Hampton vision in the Environment Agency can be viewed on www.nao.org.uk/publications/EA_Hampton_report.pdf

New EPR permits now in
New Environmental Permitting Regulations have come into force in England and Wales in a bid to cut red tape.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/epp/ or the Agency’s webpage www.environment-agency.gov.uk/epr

Ecotowns mention air
A consultation on Ecotowns includes one mention of air quality among measures aimed primarily at climate change.
l Eco-towns: Living a greener future – consultation paper
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/ecotownsgreenerfuture

Tube update
The UWE helpdesk reports that further investigation has found that one of the co-location studies for Lambeth Scientific Services was provided with automatic monitor results in ppb rather than µg/m3.
l www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/diffusiontube230408.xls

Airbase update
An update of AirBase with 2007 air quality data has been released. The data has become available through the new interactive AirBase viewer of the European Environment Agency (EEA) as well as through the new data file download page.
l EEA’s web site http://air-climate.eionet.europa.eu

Airwatch redone
The Heathrow Airwatch website has been relaunched.
l website www.heathrow airwatch.org.uk.

Betty Ng leaves agency for Jacobs
The Environment Agency’s head of modelling Betty Ng has left to join Jacobs Babtie.

Landscapes valued
An attempt is being made to place monetary values on landscapes as part of the NATA appraisal method for transport schemes.
l R105 – Valuing transport’s impact on the natural environment can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/economics/rdg/landscape/report.pdf

Roads Agency pledge
The Highways Agency, in its latest 08/09 business plan, aims to do work in three air quality management areas to “mitigate the potentially adverse impact of strategic roads and take opportunities to enhance the environment taking into account value for money”.
l Highways Agency Business Plan 08/09 can be viewed on www.highways.gov.uk

Roadside testing for Devon
A £20,000 Defra grant has enabled five local authorities in Devon to undertake a two-part study into vehicle emissions using Enviro Technology’s Accuscan 4600 roadside testing equipment.

BAM approved
Enviro Technology has announced that the BAM 1020 has become the first instrument to successfully be awarded US EPA Environmental Protection Agency Class III equivalency designation for a continuous PM 2.5 particulate monitor.

Heavy metals report for 2007
NPL has reported on levels of heavy metals in 2007.
l Annual report for 2007 on the UK heavy metals monitoring network
www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

UK emissions split into regions
An attempt has been made to split the UK emissions inventory and apportion emissions to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
l Air quality pollutant inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990 – 2005 can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

First ozone alert for SE England
A moderate ozone event was recorded on the weekend of 26th/27th of April, Kings College ERG has reported (the first ozone event of the year).
l www.londonair.org.uk

Air quality indicator finalised
The UK air quality indicator has been finalised.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/airqual/index.htm

2006 forecasting performance logged
AEA has reported on forecasting success during 2006.
l UK Air Quality Forecasting: Annual Report 2006 can be viewed on
www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Emission inventory updated
The latest (2006) National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) has been published covering UK air pollutants.
l Detailed data tables for these pollutants, together with many other environmental statistics, can be found on the Defra web site at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/index.htm

Biofuel increase
Forecourt fuels must now comply with the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) which requires 2.5% of all road fuels sold to come from biofuels, rising to 5% by 2010.

Cenex boost
The DfT has appointed Cenex (Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies) to run the new low-carbon vehicle public procurement programme.

O2 may air text
Mobile phone firm O2 is looking at the possibility of introducing a text alert service for areas of poor air quality.

Scotland reports
AEA has reviewed events in Scottish air quality as part of its contract to run the Scottish Government air quality website.
l The report can be viewed on www.scottishairquality.co.uk

Emissions explained
An analysis of how UK emission maps are produced has been published.
l NAEI UK emission mapping methodology 2005 www.airquality.co.uk

Securing lower emissions
The Beacon low emission strategy group has completed its guidance. We take a quick look

Air quality enters London politics
The increasingly imaginative Campaign for Clean Air in London pulled politicians together to discuss air quality in London

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April 2008 

Dundee dumps boiler plan
Plans for a large biomass boiler to support a new greenfield development have been rejected by Dundee City Council because of pollution fears.
l Planning documents can be viewed on
http://idoxwam.dundeecity.gov.uk/WAM133/findCaseFile.do?apptype=DC&appNumber=07/00226/FUL

Low emissions
A pre-consultation version of a guide on reducing emissions from developments was launched at the Epuk workshop.
l Low emission strategies – using the planning system to reduce transport emissions can be viewed on www.cenex.co.uk

5-yr term for AEA
AEA has won has won a further five year extension to its UK contract to manage air quality forecasting, emissions and data services.

Sharp increase in NO2 in Avon questioned
The Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust is highlighting the dangers of increasing NO2 in the town.
l Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust’s report is available on its website www.airquality.boapt.talktalk.net

News from the RECENT Epuk air quality spring workshop held in Warwick

Defra to seek exemption
Defra has confirmed that the Government fully intends seek an extension to EU deadlines for meeting objectives.

More updates on Defra air quality intentions
Jonathan Lartice is currently acting as head of local air quality following the departure of Sarah Dudgeon from Defra’s Air Quality Programme (Editor’s comment: Defra has phased out the word ‘division’ in favour of ‘programme’ – yugh!) . He outlined a number of issues including:

Biomass rethink
Defra is currently modelling the potential air quality impacts of widespread national uptake of biomass.

Medics outline expert action
The EPUK spring workshop was brought up to date on the work of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (Comeap)

Aqeg’s ozone report nears publication
The Air Quality Expert Group (Aqeg) is set to conclude its draft report into ground level ozone in the next few weeks.

Emission factors
TRL’s Ian McCrae told the Epuk spring workshop audience about efforts to improve the accuracy of emission factors.

Iapsc looms
The 11th June IAPSC meeting will include topics on emergency response to incidents affecting air quality, transport and local air quality management (including biomass).
l More details www.iapsc.org.uk

Epuk counters that biomass has its place
Epuk (ex NSCA) and the Renewable Energy Association have joined forces to defend biomass against recent adverse publicity.

Small biomass is not necessarily beautiful
Biomass impacts have been studied not just during burning, but also in production by the University of Manchester.
l Environmental Research Letters website http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/futures/33527

Home fires burn
Over half of organic air pollution in Europe during winter comes not from fossil fuel burning, but from domestic chimneys, bonfires and agricultural burning according to new results published by the EU-funded Carbosol project.
l Carbosol project weblink www.vein.hu/carbosol

Lacors bio-fears
Lacors has written to the Government to call for a full review into the impact of biofuel use on air quality after research showed it could be doing more harm than good.

Agency drafts waste permits
The Environment Agency has proposed draft standard permits aimed at regulating waste activities.
l The draft permit for household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with treatment (no building) can be viewed on www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/sr4_1853523.pdf

Best practice mooted for waste site dust
The Apple (Air Pollution Planning and the Local Environment) group is working with the Environment Agency to draft a code of best practice to minimise the air pollution arising from waste management sites.

New funding stream may be used for air
Air quality is included as a theme in a £10m research and development initiative by the Technology Strategy Board.
l Further information is available at the following website: www.technologyprogramme.org.uk

NI 194 finalised
Air quality indicator NI 194 has been finalised following a consultation earlier this year.
l The tool to be used to calculate these emissions is available at:
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/local/indicator.htm  Further help will be included in the update of the technical guidance later in 2008.

LAPC charges agreed
Defra has announced that LAPPC and LA-IPPC fees and charges for 2008-2009 will increase by 3%.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/fees-risk/fees.htm

News from Greenwich’s Beacon planning and air quality event held on the Thames

Woolwich s106
Greenwich is involved in yet another high profile planning case that is including tight air quality conditions.

Guidance weak says Bull
Arup air quality expert Michael Bull says that air quality action plans and guidance are not tough enough.

Croydon suggests alternative tack
Steven Potter of Croydon told the Greenwich Beacon planning event of an alternative way of tackling air quality given the weakness of current guidance in reducing emissions.
l The report can be found on the planning section of www.croydon.gov.uk

08/09 grant guidance released
Defra has released details of the latest air quality grant programme. l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/local/aqgrant/index.htm

Defra chooses Aetholometers for smoke
Air Monitors is to supply Defra with 22 units of dual-wavelength Aethalometers for installation into the UK black smoke monitoring network.
l More information www.airmonitors.co.uk

Hoskin hops
On the stands at the recent Epuk spring workshop, it emerged that Steven Hoskin has left Enviro Technology and will join Air Monitors in June

HPA consults on children’s health
The UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) has set out how it aims to improve child public health.
l www.hpa.org.uk/cehape

Tube changes
A number of changes have taken place to the diffusion tube database since the last release in February 2008. The latest version (v. 03/08) can be found on www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/diffusiontube310308.xls.
l The diffusion tube precision summary figure has also been updated at
www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/tube_precision_2007(Mar_08).pdf

Bus subsidy reform mooted
Bus subsidies may be reformed finally addressing criticism that fuel grants discourage operators from greening their fleets.
l Local bus service support – options for reform can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/bussubsidy

Porsche files case
Porsche officially applied for a judicial review challenging the Mayor’s £25 charge congestion charge in the High Court.
l www.porschejudicialreview.co.uk

Budget measures
A series of measures were included in last month’s Budget that impact on air quality. introduction in 2011.
l www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_08/report/bud_bud08_repindex.cfm

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March 2008

AQMA houses refused
Plans for semi detached houses have been refused on air quality grounds in Halifax.
l The judgement can be viewed on http://tinyurl.com/26ct3j

Heathrow debate heats up as consultation ends
As the consultation on expanding Heathrow closes, councils and pressure groups have submitted their responses to the Government. Replies are split between support on economic grounds, and opposition on air quality and noise.

Dudgeon departs
Defra air quality strategy boss Sarah Dudgeon has moved on.

Climate AQ impact
A report on the health and air quality impacts of climate change has been updated.
l Health effects of climate change in the UK, February 2008 was produced by the Health Protection Agency and can be downloaded on www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_080702

BAA admits modelling mistake
BAA has admitted that dispersion modelling it carried out in support of its application to expand Stansted Airport was wrong. It now says that some areas will breach standards.

ADMS Airports launched for public use
Consultant Cerc has released the ADMS Airport modelling package.
l www.cerc.co.uk

Hillingdon looks at own fleet emissions
A fleet audit has been carried out by the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Bath monitored
Bath schoolchildren have been monitoring carbon monoxide levels on the walking route between two school sites.

Doncaster heads back to school
Doncaster Council is going into schools to educate primary school children about the importance of air quality.
l Further information www.doncaster.gov.uk/airq/index.asp

Sussex talks on climate change challenge
South east England councils have heard about the challenge of integrating climate change action with air quality.

Nano fears prompts research programme
Increasing fears about engineered nanoparticles have prompted more research funding on potential health effects.
l website www.nihr-ccf.org. uk/site/docdatabase/prp/prp_nanotox_docs/PRP%20Nanotechnologies%20-%20research%20brief.doc

Permit revamp
Core guidance on the new environmental permitting regime has been released. l Environmental permitting core guidance can be downloaded from www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/guidance/manuals.htm

Coventry deaths?
 Incineration in Coventry is raising infant death rates, anti incinerator campaigners claims.
l www.ukhr.org

Swiss nanotalks
The 12th conference on combustion generated nanoparticles will take place in Zurich on 23rd–25th June.
l www.lav.ethz.ch/nanoparticleconf/index

Tube analysis guidance finalised
Guidance on the analysis and use of nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes has been released in a bid to harmonise practice among local authorities.
l Guidance can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/reports.php?report_id=499

EPUK forum to raise biomass fears
EPUK (formerly the NSCA) has put together a working group to consider the conflicting air quality and climate change issues concerning biomass installations.

Scots biomass boost
Scottish Government is being urged to encourage renewable heat (including biomass) despite fears about air pollution.
l Scotland’s renewable heat strategy: recommendations to Scottish ministers can be viewed on www.scotland.gov.uk/resource/doc/211131/0055786.pdf

London Councils link
London Councils has posted its biomass study on the web (AQB January p1). l It can be found at www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=21683&cat=1027

Bristol cohort moves on to air
The recent UWE conference heard details of a huge study of babies born in Bristol and how they could help air pollution and health research.

Enviro Technology’s Trafficbox packs it in
Enviro Technology launched its Trafficbox at the UWE/EPUK Bristol conference – a small cabinet containing instruments designed to monitor various pollutants.
l www.et.co.uk

UWE and Cranfield in composting probe
UWE in partnership with Cranfield University is studying toxic emissions from composting activities.

LTp tie up rated
A postgrad student has studied the incorporation of air quality action plans in the local transport plan process.

Fresh air for London walkers
Central London walkers can now benefit from a new service that helps them plan out ‘fresh-air routes’ that avoid pollution areas.
l www.walkit.com

ERG releases annual London AQ report
The 13th annual report of the London Air Quality Network has been published. The report spans both 2005 and 2006 providing detailed results of measurements in 2005 and outlining the pollution changes during 2006
l www.londonair.org.uk

Early pollution event noted by ERG
Elevated concentrations of particles and NO2 have been measured at several monitoring sites across London and south-east England between 10th-13th February 2008.
l www.londonair.org.uk

Forecasting meet
This years National Air Quality Forecasting Seminar is to be held on May 14th in London. Themes will include health and advanced modelling.
l Contact AEA, Iarla Kilbane-Dawe email I.Kilbane-Dawe@aeat.co.uk

Yorkshire fleet event
Sheffield City Council and Cenex are holding a two day event on the 10th and 11th of March aimed at greening transport fleets.
l www.cenex.co.uk/news-industryevents.asp

Biofuel rethink
The Government is reviewing its biofuels policy.
l www.dft.gov.uk/rfa

Charge yields ‘modest’ benefit
The London congestion charge has led to a modest benefit in life expectancy London researchers suggest.
l Spatial and socioeconomic air pollution and mortality benefits of the London Congestion charge, Cathryn Tonne et al, Occupational and Environmental Medicine online. website http://oem.bmj.com

Congestion charge draws mixed views
London mayor Ken Livingstone is going ahead with plans to charge larger ‘gas guzzlers’ £25 through the central London congestion charge.
l www.porschejudicialreview.co.uk

Inspired data
Consultant Bureau Veritas is to develop and prototype Inspire directive-technical specifications for air, water, waste and biodiversity environmental monitoring facilities for the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Nanoparticles studied
A study has been released that sets out the risks posed by engineered nanoparticles.
l Characterising the potential risks posed by engineered nanoparticles can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/nanotech/research/reports

More work on FDMS model
ERG has a won a contract to further develop a model that may save the Teom

Lacors gets its kit out
Local authority group Lacors has produced a user-friendly ‘toolkit’ for helping councils take action on air quality.
l Air quality toolkit: local action for cleaner air can be viewed on www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/upload/16825.doc

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February 2008

Cank convenes civil action
A protest group formed of residents near the North Wales Padeswood cement plant is to launch a civil court action.

Rugby back in Court
Protesters seeking to clean up Cemex’s Rugby cement works have had their appeal heard in the High Court.

White Horse AQMA prompts Hip fears
Plans to declare an air quality management area in the Vale of White Horse has led to fears about house values.

10,000 dirties?
Ten thousand lorries may not be compliant with London low emission zone, the Freight Transport Association has claimed as the zone gets underway.

£50m up for grabs
The Department of Health and the ODPM have allocated £50m for technology systems for preventative health. The money could be used for air quality alerting services (such as Sussex Airtext) – but money is only available until April.
l email I.Kilbane- Dawe @ aeat.co.uk

Action plan toolkit
Lacors has produced an action planning toolkit. More details next month.
l www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/ upload/16825.doc

Concentration conundrum
Air quality experts have questioned UK air quality policy given that action does not appear to be cutting pollutant concentrations.

Google Earth for airquality.co.uk
A Google Earth interface has been added to the UK www.airquality.co.uk website, following on from Sheffield’s adoption of the technology (AQB January p2).
Reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

Decline stalls
www.airquality.co.uk reports that data from the acid deposition network has been released for 2006.

UK summary report
Another report Air Quality in the UK summarises 2006 measurements from large-scale national air pollution monitoring networks operated on behalf of Defra and the devolved administrations. The report sits in a newly-created home page on www.airquality.co.uk.

Port pollution tacked by California
California is getting tough on port pollution by targeting ships and trucks.

London told incineration bad ...
A report commissioned by the London Mayor highlights disadvantages of incineration and landfill.
l The report Greenhouse gas balances of waste management scenarios can be viewed at: www.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/waste/climate-change/index.jsp

.. but government highlights benefits
Dberr (formerly the DTi) has released a report highlighting the business opportunities from increased uptake of incineration technology.
l Energy from waste: a guide to opportunities in the UK www.berr.gov.uk/publications/whats-new/index.html

Whole life costing methodology proposed
The European Commission has proposed a revised directive for the promotion of clean and energy efficient road transport vehicles. The move should make it easier for public authorities to specify cleaner vehicles without breaching competition rules.
l The directive can be viewed on http://ec.europa.eu/transport/ clean/index_en.htm and the table on http://tinyurl.com/3232wy

Euro VI limits set
The Commission has reaffirmed that it intends to cut emissions from trucks and buses of NOx by 80% and particulate matter by 66% compared to the Euro V stage. Euro VI comes into force in 2013/14 and matches US 2010 standards.
l http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/pagesbackground/pollutant_emission/index.htm

WHO sets out heavy metal risks
A report from the World Health Organisation sets out the risk from heavy metals in the air.
l Health risks of heavy metals from long-range transboundary air pollution website www.euro.who.int/publications

Action plans: could do better
London authorities have been told they could do better with their action plans.

New guidance manual for PPC
New guidance has been produced for local authority regulators of industrial installations.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/guidance/manuals.htm

Freight plan launched for London
Just weeks before introduction of the low emission zone (see page 8), Transport for London has launched the London Freight Plan. It sets out actions by TfL and truck operators aimed at reducing the environmental impact of trucks.
l The London Freight Plan can be viewed on www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/ downloads/businessandpartners/London-Freight-Plan.pdf

Foundry prompts Walsall AQMA
Following years of concerns about air quality near a metals foundry, Walsall is set to declare an air quality management area in Chuckery.
l www.walsall.gov.uk/index/ environment/pollution/air_quality_in_chuckery.htm

2007 air quality indicator published
Air quality in 2007 was better than 2006, the Government’s air quality indicator suggests.
l Final results will be available in the spring. The indicator can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/news/ 2008/080124a.htm

Air quality expert appointed to Olympic sustainability body
The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 has appointed of Dr Claire Holman of Peter Brett Associates, as commissioner.

Olympic air quality battleground
Clean air campaigners are seeking to draw on Olympics commitments in a bid to clean up London’s air quality

Wiring up a Leeds roundabout
The Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds, is carrying out studies in roadside air pollution and vehicle emission monitoring using monitoring equipment from Enviro Technology (ET).

Biomethane talks
A Biomethane for Transport conference will be held in Greenwich, London on the 3rd March.
l www.biomethane.org.uk

Lester leaves
Alaric Lester has left airports group BAA to set up his own consultancy. Lester, previously with Cerc, GLA and the London Borough of Croydon, will work from two offices, one in Kent and the other in Hungary.
l www.evanlester.com

Bristol conference
The South West NSCA and UWE are running their annual conference on the 21st February in Bristol entitled Environment and health: prevention before cure.
l Booking Enda Hayes, Enda.Hayes @uwe. ac.uk

Biofuels: no climbdown
The European Commission has taken forward its renewable energy directive which, among other things, insists on a binding 10% minimum target for biofuels in transport.
l Iwww.parliament.uk/eacom

RSK swallows Stats
RSK Group has acquired consultant Stats as part of its drive “to become UK’s number one environmental consultancy”.
l www.rsk.co.uk

2006 EU results
Member states’ preliminary results for ambient air quality assessments in 2006 have been released.
l http://air-climate.eionet.europa.eu/announcements/reports/ETCACC_TP2007_5_AQQ2006_prelim_analysis

Quick assessment
Defra and the devolved administrations’ preliminary assessment of performance against the air quality strategy objectives in 2007, based on national automated monitoring sites, indicates that the UK has met objectives for: sulphur dioxide, benzene, 1,3-butadiene and carbon monoxide, but not met the objectives for PM10, NO2 and ozone.

Sharing report
DfT has released a report on public experiences of car sharing.
l www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statist ics/datatablespublications/trsnstatsatt/pubexofcarsharing

Cars fail tests
Various Euro 3 and Euro 4 petrol and diesel cars were tested to see whether their in-service emissions conformed to the type approved emissions.
l In-service emissions testing of light duty passenger vehicles www.dft.gov.uk/pgr /roads/environment/cvtf/ vehicletesting

Planning FAQ added
A new ‘frequently asked question’ dealing with a planning conundrum has been added to the review and assessment helpdesk website.

EPA goes large
The US Environmental Protection Agency has launched a $7m research programme on impacts of nanotechnology on the environment. 21 universities will investigate potential adverse health and environmental effects of manufactured nanomaterials.
l http://es.epa.gov/ncer/ nano/2008recipients.html

Costs outlined
The European Commission has produced a 300 page report setting out the external environmental costs of transport, including air quality. The handbook is intended to inform forthcoming European policy to establish fair costs for all modes of transport.
l It can be viewed on http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road/policy/index_en.htm

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January 2008 

Biomass boilers cancelled
Seven planned biomass boilers in Edinburgh have been shelved because of air quality concerns.

Ammonia key in ecosystems revamp
Defra has published an action plan for the natural environment. A review of ammonia is included.
l weblink www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/natres/eco-actionp.htm

News from the IAPSC meeting held in Birmingham last month

Community monitoring on show
Sheffield City Council’s Mark Daly told Iapsc delegates of the dual benefits of community diffusion tube monitoring.

Google Sheffield
Sheffield has launched a Google Maps-based website showing the location of community and council funded monitors. The map shows the locations of devices, clicking on them yields further information about that location
l It can be seen on Sheffield’s new site www.sheffieldairmap.org

Action plan helpdesk: best practice
l The website can now be viewed on www.airquality.co. uk/archive/laqm/actionplan.php

Tube guidance draws nearer
Guidance on how laboratories and users should handle NO2 diffusion tubes is drawing near.

Wasp joins nest of compliance schemes
Iapsc delegates learned of another scheme intended to improve diffusion tube data.

Port Talbot still dusty
Particles are still a puzzle at Port Talbot despite several years of intensive monitoring and numerous theories, Iapsc was told by Mark Broom of the Environment Agency.

LTp guidance updated
Guidance on the second Local Transport Plan (LTP2) progress reports due this year (2008) has been issued.
l More details can be found on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/guidance/prog

Events overshadow cleaner year
ERG, which runs monitoring networks in South East England, reports high pollution events towards the end of 2007.

2007 cleaner than 2006, says ‘yardstick’
Pollution levels in 2007 appeared to mirror those of 2004 and 2005 (last summer was a washout, rather like 2004 and 2005), there does appear to be an increase in NO2 exceedences.

Directive nears completion
The European Parliament has agreed a compromise at the second reading of the air quality directive. The Clean Air for Europe directive replaces the air quality framework directive and first three daughter directives.

AQEG finalises direct NO2 report
The Air Quality Expert Group has finalised its report on directly emitted nitrogen dioxide.
l AQEG fourth report: Trends in primary nitrogen dioxide in the UK www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/airquality/panels/aqeg/index.htm

NI reports on air
Northern Ireland has produced its fifth air quality report. Gradual improvements in air quality
l Air pollution in Northern Ireland – 2006 www.airqualityni.co.uk LAPC survey released Defra has released its annual survey on local authority pollution control.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/reports/index.htm#stats0607

Labs: precision is ranked
The review and assessment helpdesk is highlighting good and bad performance of laboratories processing nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes. It aims to encourage local authorities to make sure they choose the best performing labs.
l Briefing sheet: www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/diffusion_tube_precision.doc

Black smoke trials
Instruments measuring black smoke have been evaluated in an intercomparison trial. Black smoke is once again being considered an important metric because of its impact on climate change and correlation with health impacts.
l Marylebone Road Aethalometer trial can be viewed on www.airquality. co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

IEH sets meeting date
The eleventh annual review meeting on outdoor and indoor air pollution research will be held at Cranfield University on 15th-16th April, the Institute of Environment and Health has announced.
l Website http://www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/ieh/

Beacon call
Sefton is organising an air quality seminar at Aintree on 22nd February.
l Beacon website www.beacons.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6250584

UK meets NEC targets
A report from the European Environment Agency suggests that UK and ten other countries will meet their National Emission Ceiling (NEC) targets. l NEC Directive status report 2006 can be viewed on http://reports.eea.europa.eu/technical_report_2007_15/en

All change for the AURN
Defra has announced key changes to the running of the Automatic Urban and Rural (AURN) and Hydrocarbon Networks which provide data for UK air quality.

PPS4 released
Consultation has started on Planning policy statement 4: Planning for sustainable economic development.
l www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/614685

Climate change PPS
A new Planning policy statement (PPS): Planning and climate change has been issued. The new PPS, which has been issued as a supplement to PPS1, sets out how planning, in providing for the new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, should help shape places with lower carbon emissions and resilient to the climate change.
l www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/climatechange

Port pollution tackled
California is getting tough on port pollution by targeting ships and trucks.

EPUK’s webswap
Environmental Protection UK (formerly the NSCA) has launched its new website.
l Its new url is www.environmental-protection.org.uk

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December 2007

Heathrow: pollution cleared
Consultation has started for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow. It will allow a near-doubling of traffic.
l The consultation can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/heathrowconsultation

Indicator detailed
198 national indicators have now been agreed replacing 1,200 existing indicators. The detailed content of the new indicators have now been released for consultation.
l Analysis to support climate change indicators for local authorities, Analysis of methods to measure the carbon footprint and NOX and PM10 emissions of local authorities and other public sector bodies, Tool for calculation of CO2 emissions from organisations and other resources can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk /environment/localgovindicators/cc-indicators.htm

Buncefield lessons ignored?
A fire at the Olympics building site in the east end of London produced a plume of black smoke reminiscent of Buncefield last month. ERG says more needs to be done to tighten up air quality responses to such incidents.

London hit by two further pollution episodes
Moderate and high air pollution was recorded in London on the 15th to 17th November.
l www.londonair.org.uk

News from EPUK’s air quality update meeting held in Birmingham

‘R’ is for statistical analysis
Leeds University modelling expert David Carslaw says air quality experts should use ‘R’ to analyse data. Carslaw says ‘R’ analysis is free and can unlock value held in the vast quantities of data that has been collected – value that is often wasted.

Biomass balance is tricky
Biomass has its place, however there may be “significant” impacts on air quality, a study is likely to say.

Tackling local air quality in the US
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Jeff Clark told a recent EPUK conference of initiatives taking place in the US.

Technical guidance in Spring
Defra air quality chief Sarah Dudgeon told the EPUK conference that revised technical guidance is now expected to be consulted upon in Spring.

Timmis enthuses about directional sampler
Roger Timmis, air quality science manager of the Environment Agency, told the EPUK conference about the potential for low cost directional analysis of pollution.

15 minute headache for generators
“The 15 minute sulphur dioxide objective is a standard our power stations were never designed to meet,” RWE NPower’s Gill Hunter told the EPUK conference.

BAA Heathrow sets action plan to cut short term impacts
BAA released its latest air quality action plan for Heathrow Airport last month, just prior to the latest Government consultation on expansion.

Citizens probe air quality
Citizen’s juries are being used to test areas of government policy – including air quality.

Homes completed despite no-kids plea
Homes are now being completed near the Rugby cement works.

CO2 apportioned
Statistics have been released in a bid to be able to calculate CO2 emission statistics at a local authority level.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environ ment/statistics/globatmos/galocalghg.htm

Indoor air talks
Indoor air quality will be discussed at an Automation and Analytical Management Group (AAMG) of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Christmas meeting.
l  Website: www.aamg-rsc.org

Airalert extended
Sussex’s airAlert text and phone air pollution warning system will be operational again from May 2008 for locals to receive free alerts during elevated air pollution periods.
l www.sussex-air.net/

Wales LAPC charges
Wales local authorities are being consulted on 2008/09 risk based fees and charges for local authority regulated industries.
l http://new.wales.gov.uk/ consultations/currentconsultation/envandcouncurrcons/1812510/?lang=en


NO2 tube periods
Preferred exposure dates for NO2 tubes have been released for diffusion data to be compatible with the national data archive.
l Nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube monitoring – calendar of suggested exposure periods 2008 can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports

Parkin presents London action on air quality
The GLA’s Lucy Parkin outlined action in London to improve air quality.

Air appeal fails
Sevenoaks District Council has withdrawn its objections to an extension of a Tesco superstore.

Euro VI outlined
Euro VI commercial vehicle emission limits have been set out in discussions between the motor industry and the European Commission.

Cattle probe
Defra is letting research on the identification and mitigation of the environmental impacts of out-wintering beef and dairy cattle.
l www.defra.gov.uk/science/funding/competitions.htm

Smoke exposure falls
Cancer Research UK says hospitality workers’ exposure to smoke particles has fallen by 95% since the smoking ban came into effect.

Biomassive plant
A 350MW wood-chipped fuelled electricity generating plant in Port Talbot has been approved.

Renewables push
A new report from the Renewables Advisory Board (RAB), which advises Government on renewable energy, analyses the role of on-site energy generation for the Government’s policy of ensuring that all new homes are zero carbon from 2016.

Vans targeted
Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme money will be targeted at greening vans.
l www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/technology/lowcarbonvehicleprocurementprog

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November 2007

Mixed news for EU directive
The European Café air quality directive has passed through a further stage in the European legislative process.

NSCA is dead. Long live EPUK
Environmental Protection UK is the new name for the National Society for Clean Air (NSCA). NSCA was the UK’s longest established environmental organisation having been set up in 1898 with the goal of abating city smoke.

Citizens’ jury rules on air quality
A citizens’ jury has told air quality minister Jonathan Shaw what should be done about pollution.
l The citizen’s jury report can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/publications/citizens-jury/index.htm

PSA’s and indicators for Defra
The Government’s Public Spending Review, released in last month’s Pre Budget Report, saw the launch of the final set of indicators and public service agreements (PSAs) affecting Defra and air quality. These drive priorities for both national and local government.
l More details: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pbr_csr/psa/pbr_csr07_psaindex.cfm

Government outlines transport policy
A Government ‘discussion document’ on transport strategy sets out aspirations to cut carbon in transport, and investment plans to expand the transport system.
l Towards a sustainable transport system: supporting economic growth in a low carbon world www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/transportstrategy/pdfsustaintranssystem.pdf

Appraisal ‘refresh’
The DfT’s key appraisal guide is set for a ‘refresh’.
l The NATA Refresh: reviewing the new approach to transport appraisal is on www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/consulnatarefresh

Further rap for UK from Europe
Soon after it was censured by Europe for having sulphur dioxide exceedences (AQB October p3), the UK has been targeted for failing to meet particle objectives.
l http://europa.eu/rapid/ pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1537&type=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Space sensing can spot air quality impacts
Scientists at ESRIN, The European Space Agency Earth Observation Centre in Frascati, Italy, have highlighted the usefulness of satellites for monitoring nitrogen dioxide.
l http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SE MEYBJJX7F_environment_0.html

Scotland reports worsening emissions
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published a summary of its Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) online database.
l The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) online database can be viewed at www.sepa.org.uk/spri/index.htm

Defra in biofuels stock-take
Defra has outlined the “risks and opportunities” of biofuels in terms of air pollution and global warming.
l The statement can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/rtfo/289579

Quantitech launch easy to use tester
Quantitech is launching two easy-to-use mid-infrared analysers for biofuels analysis.
l More details on website www.quantitech.co.uk

Hard shoulder running claimed to improve air
Modelling of the impacts from introducing variable speed limit controlled traffic on the M42 shows air quality gains.
l M42 active traffic management results – first six months can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/m42activetrafficmanagement

Charge a ‘missed opportunity’
Environmental Protection UK (EPUK – formerly the NSCA) says plans for an emissions related congestion charge in London may be a missed opportunity.

Car ban ‘only hope’ for London emissions
Emissions targets for London stand little chance of being achieved unless the Greater London Authority (GLA) bans cars from both inner and outer London, according to a report published today by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Oxford University Transport Studies Unit.

Nanoparticle threat leads to research
The threat to health caused by nanoparticles is to scrutinised in two studies being released.
l www.defra.gov.uk/science/funding/competitions.htm

Planning for Agency traffic
The Highways Agency has published its spreadsheet of air quality management areas prompted by its motorways and trunks roads.
l The list can be viewed at www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/1798.aspx

Low carbon car report released
The King Review of low-carbon cars has been released to coincide with the Pre Budget Report. It examines vehicle and fuel technologies which could help to decarbonise road transport over the next 25 years.
l Review of low-carbon cars. Part I: the potential for CO2 reduction can be viewed on www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pbr_csr/reviews/pbr_csr 07_king_index.cfm

Filter-less diesel meets petrol emissions
UK vehicle technology firm Ricardo claims it has developed a diesel engine that is as clean as petrol without the need to use aftertreatment.

Motor firms boast emission benefits
SMMT, the motor manufacturers body, has highlighted the progress made in improving emissions of vehicles.
l More comparisons on http://smmtlib.findlay.co.uk/ articles/news/News/Evolution%20of%20the%20Car.pdf

Euro V incentive
The Department for Transport has announced the details of a scheme to extend tax incentives to encourage hauliers and bus operators to buy cleaner Euro V vehicles.

Scania skips treatment
Truckmaker Scania reports that it now has an engine that can meet Euro 5 standards without exhaust aftertreatment.

Motorcycle emissions
Vehicle technology specialist Ricardo has tested a number of motorcycles against existing and proposed standardised drive cycles.
l Motorcycle exhaust emissions factors and test cycles programme – final report can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/RicardoMotorcycleEmissions.pdf

Sheffield Beacon
As part of Sheffield City Council’s Beacon activities, the council is holding two events on air quality this month.

Long range emissions
The Annual European Community LRTAP Convention Emission Inventory report 1990-2005 has been published.
l http://reports.eea.europa.eu

Inspire consultation
The Commission is consulting on the shape of the Inspire directive which seeks to harmonise data provision (AQB October p4).
l www.ec-gis.org/inspire/public_consultations/metadata/index.cfm

WHO reports
A meeting report has been published for the World Health Organisation’s meeting on the health effects of particles held in Bonn earlier this year.
l Health relevance of particulate matter from various sources www.euro.who.int/Doc ument/E90672.pdf

Climate response
The Government has published a summary of responses to its consultation on a draft Climate Change Bill.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/climatechange-bill/

Low carbon homes
Guidance has been released on zero carbon homes.
l www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustain able_homes_techguide.pdf

Agency retrunks roads
The Government has changed its mind on three roads that were to be detrunked based on the intervention of the Highways Agency.

Biodiesel trials halted
National Express has announced that it has suspended its ‘first generation’ UK biodiesel bus trial due to concerns over whether the benefits outweigh the risk to the sustainability of food crop sources.

Welsh 2006 episodes
The Welsh Air Quality Forum has released its 2006 annual report which contains a summary of air pollution during that year.
l Air pollution in Wales, 2006 can be viewed on www.welshairquality.co.uk/index.php

Cities ranked for sustainability
Forum for the future has ranked UK cities in terms of sustainability and found that Brighton & Hove is the best.
l More details can be found on Forum for the Future’s website on www.forumforthefuture.org.uk
Air NOx factor up
Airplane NOx emission factors need to be raised by 4.5% to take into account wear and tear, according to a study carried out for the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow.
l www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/avia tion/environmentalissues/heathrow/airquality/engineemissioncorrection

In Parliament: Heathrow…
Transport ministers were quizzed in Parliament about the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow – a project set up to investigate the difficulties in meeting air quality objectives near the airport.

... and gas vehicles
Transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick was quizzed in Parliament about the latest Government view on the benefits of LPG vehicles.

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October 2007

Clampdown on livestock
Farmers are finding the habitats directive affecting their business more than expected.
l The Agency has produced a briefing note on www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/briefing_1867292.pdf

Defra updates review & assessment progress
A proposed air quality performance indicator could be finalised later this month.

AEA in action
Bureau Veritas has lost the three year contract to run the action plan helpdesk for Defra.

News from the South Yorks Care4Air conference in Sheffield

Environment made a ‘duty’
Local Area Agreements will for the first time impose a duty on councils to consider the environment in partnership with other agencies, Government Office for Yorkshire and Humberside’s Tim Godson told the Care4Air conference.

New group sets low emission best practice
A team lead by Sheffield is developing good practice guidance on low emissions.

Freight groups spread
A South London freight quality partnership has been set up following the success of a West London partnership. The partnerships, often based on existing air quality cluster groups, aim to improve delivery practices to reduce emissions.

News from last month’s dispersion model users group meeting

Inspire: new duty to publish
A little known European directive will force authorities to publish information they have collected on issues such as air quality and noise.

Airtext aimed to cut London deaths
Cerc’s Iarla Kilbane-Dawe told the DMUG conference how London’s Airtext air pollution text forecasting service is put together.

Don’t bother with models?
Local authorities need not bother with complicated dispersion models if comparisons carried out by Bureau Veritas are to be believed.

Climate could alter emissions, DMUG told
Andrew Malby of Lancaster University told the DMUG conference that climate change could change assumptions about exceedences from industrial stacks.

Ship emissions mapped
AEA’s Chris Dore told the DMUG conference about efforts to improve knowledge of UK shipping emissions.

Further probe on NOx paint
Camden is undertaking a further trial to investigate the efficiency of NOX reducing paint. It already has trialed NOX reducing paving which suggested a 20% cut .

Taxi clean up upheld by court
The Royal Courts of Justice has rejected calls by the London Cab Drivers’ Club for a judicial review of the Public Carriage Office’s implementation of the London Mayor’s taxi emissions strategy.

Agency price rise less than inflation
The Environment Agency is consulting on its annual price hike for environmental permits. It is also consulting on new standardised waste permits.

IPPC news
Guidance has been produced for the ceramics sector.
l Final publication of IPPC SG 7: Secretary of State’s guidance for the A2 ceramics sector including heavy clay, refractories, calcining clay and whiteware and Consultation on a draft second edition of IPPC SG6 for A2 activities in the solvents sector can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk /environment/ppc/index.htm

Agency wins lottery with OPAL
The UK lottery is funding a huge £12m project that will take air quality and other environmental issues to the public.
l www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Good and bad in Agency end of year report
The Environment Agency reports good and bad outcomes in its summary of its activities in 2006.
l A copy of Spotlight 2006 is available online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/spotlight or by calling 08708 506 506.

Diffusion tube update
The air quality helpdesk has announced a revision to the diffusion tube database The database, last updated in March, contains corrections to be used by tube users in a bid to standardise results.
l The updated database can be downloaded from www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/rev iew/diffusiontube300907.xls

Rushlight call
A new environmental award scheme will close for entries on 31 October 2007
l More details on website www.rushlightawards.co.uk

Green driving boost
The DfT is providing an extra £1.2million to train van drivers in greener, safer driving techniques.
l More details of the competition can be found at www.safed.org.uk

CO2 locally…
AEA has released a report commissioned by Defra that provides “nationally consistent” carbon dioxide emission estimates at local authority and regional level for the year 2004.
l Local and regional CO2 emissions estimates for 2004 for the UK can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

…and nationally
This report presents estimates of greenhouse gas emission inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the years 1990, 1995, 1998 to 2005.
l Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2005 can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Teom tip off
King’s College London ERG has launched an automatic notification service that will warn site operators when their Teom or FDMS filter needs changing.
l www.londonair.org.uk

Breckland no laggard
Breckland Council claims it has satisfied Defra that it is making satisfactory progress on its action plan.

Iapsc date agreed
Iapsc’s second conference of the year will take place in Birmingham on Monday 3rd December. Topics will include action plans, and NO2 diffusion tubes for local air quality management.
l www.iapsc.org.uk

HPA looks at kids
The Health Protection Agency has published a report summarising current initiatives which address children and young people’s environment and health issues in the UK .
l Publications for the child-ren’s environment and health action plan for Europe www.hpa.org.uk/chemicals/publications/cehape/index.htm

Free car checks
Middlesbrough is carrying out a series of free car emissions checks.

Vintage paint scheme
Old fashioned high VOC paint is set to be retained for use by specialist restorers.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/paint-buildings-vehicles/index.htm

Campaign reveals EU sanctions
A London based clean air campaign has revealed that the UK is being pursued by the European Commission for air quality breaches.
l Campaign for Clean Air in London website www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ actionnetwork/G1956

Aermod hits version 6
Trinity Consultants has released a new version of its Breeze Aermod dispersion modelling software.
l More information on Aermod 6 or any of the other Breeze suit of models is available from Trinity’s UK reseller David Harvey (djh@ admltd.com, Tel 01252 794484)

Allergy epidemic
Allergy has now reached ‘epic proportions’ says a House of Lords report on asthma.
l Allergy: House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report website www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldsctech.htm

Low Carbon Vehicles
£20m of funding has been agreed to support ‘near to market’ low carbon vehicle research, development and demonstration projects for public and private use.
l Details of the competition on the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform can be found on www.technologyprogramme.org.uk

VOC dilemma
Scientists have tried to calculate whether it is better to release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) directly to the atmosphere or incinerate them.
l Climate change consequences of VOC emission controls can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/ reports/list.php
September 2007

Who's won our 2007 web review? Click here for pdf / html summary with live links

Air stalls Thames Gateway Bridge
Air quality has been cited as a key reason for deferral of planning permission to build the Thames Gateway Bridge.
l The decision is on www.persona.uk.com/thamesgateway/

Charge to target emissions
Soon after the Mayor approved the go ahead of the London wide low emission zone, an emissions based charge is being considered for the congestion charge.
l Further details can be found on www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/roadsandpublicspaces/5669.aspx

Local transport plan guidance suggested
Draft local transport plan guidance has been proposed which spells out more detail of what is required in terms of air quality reports for English local authorities outside of London.
l www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/localtransportplanning/

Strategy dissension from Wallis
Further feedback has emerged on Defra’s new air quality strategy released last month.

Urban pollution changes mapped by Defra
Defra and the devolved regions have released a report looking at the impact of changing emissions of particles, NO2 and ozone on concentrations in 2010 and 2020.
l Sensitivity studies of concentrations of NO2 and ozone for London for 2010 and 2020 can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Cornwall dust higher, but below limits
A report has found that levels of particle pollution within the China Clay mining area of Cornwall do not exceed objective levels.
l Further details, Graham Martin, email graham . martin @ restormel . gov . uk or www.cornwall-airquality.org.uk

Particle prosecution
A Knottingley firm has been prosecuted for air pollution offences.

Data now...
Mapped 2005 1x1km emissions data are now available for the latest inventory year (2005).
l Gridded data for various pollutants can be found in the NAEI data warehouse www.naei.org.uk

Pollutant register
Consultation is underway on the implementation of the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) and the UN-ECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.
l Consultation on the implementation of the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) Regulation and the UN-ECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers can be viewed on Defra’s website www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/prtr-reg-implement/index.htm

Clearer future?
South Yorkshire’s Care4Air partnership is holding its third yearly conference on 20th September. A Clearer Future Conference 2007 – Delivering cleaner air and tackling climate change will highlight the work within air quality, transport and the climate change agenda.
l Further details contact events@divacreative.com

Waste research
A large research project looking at the air quality and other environmental impacts of waste disposal has been announced by Defra.
l www.defra.gov.uk/science/ funding/competitions.htm

Dioxins research
Defra is also seeking to “improve UK inventories of emissions of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, and HCB to air, land and water”.
l Weblink as above

Grants: who gets what
Defra has allocated this year’s air quality grant. English councils bid for £6.96m of grant, available money totalled £2.38m.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/local/aqgrant/index.htm

Indicators show good and bad
The latest edition of the Government’s Sustainable development indicators in your pocket has been released.
l Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2007 www.sustainable-development.gov.uk

Beacon learning
Beacon authorities have put on a conference to publicise their efforts to improve air quality.
l Further details can be found on the beacon website www.idea.gov.uk/beacons

UK seeks to rubber stamp programmes
Consultees are being asked to rubber stamp the UK’s plans to meet EU air quality directives.
l Consultation on UK report regarding plans and programmes to meet EU air quality limit values (reporting year 2005) www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/air-limitvalues2005/index.htm

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August 2007 headlines (issue 16)

Aug 07: we are now doing our website review! Let us know about good sites or sites about to be revamped so we don't miss them.

New air quality strategy at last! Special 16 page issue full of detail, analysis and wallchart
Pressure to relax seen off - but enhancements ignored

Calderdale told to pay up due to road fumes
Calderdale Council has released a draft action plan aimed at reducing pollution on many roads in the area. Excess noise and pollution on the road recently cost the council £25,000 in payouts to residents.

Emissions indicator?
Government has spelled out what it expects local authorities to do on the environment – and a new set of indicators. One will require local authorities to tot up all their emissions of NOx and primary PM10.
l The proposed indicators can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localgovindicators/index.htm

Environmental prospectus launched
Alongside the new indicators (above), a Joint Environmental Prospectus has been launched containing a checklist setting out how councils can tackle climate change, protect the natural environment and resources, and improve the local environment.
l More details about the Joint Environmental Prospectus can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/delivery/landscape/local/

NSCA to become EPUK
NSCA members have voted at a special general meeting to change the group’s name to Environmental Protection UK (EPUK).

New minister chooses local environment brief
Tony Blair’s departure as Prime Minister has seen incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown shake up ministerial positions. The expected merger of Defra and energy side of the DTi failed to materialise.

Multi-stage dust sampler
Quantitech has launched a new stack dust sampling device from sampling equipment specialist TCR Tecora.

Fourth consultation on EPP permitting
Defra has released a further consultation on the Environmental Permitting Programme which seeks to merge planning and pollution regulation for waste activities.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/envpermitprog4/index.htm

New AQ notes
More air quality notes have been released
l The notes and PPC bulletin can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/ppc/index.htm

Emissions logged
Emissions of certain industrial pollutants in the European Union are still increasing, according to a review published by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency.
l The European Pollutant Emission Register can be found at www.eper.ec.europa.eu

RCEP’s future looks bright
An independent review of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution suggests it may be retained.
l The RCEP report can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/rcep/ review.htm#report

Euro VI consultation tightens diesel smoke
The European Commission has launched a consultation on the Euro VI heavy vehicle emission standards. Four scenarios of varying stiffness with some tying in to US standards.

Heathrow gets ‘world’s largest’ electric truck
DHL has officially presented its first ever zero emission vehicle to BAA for use at its Heathrow Consolidation Centre [HCC] operated on behalf of Heathrow Airport.

Stansted AQ unpicked
The planning inquiry into expansion of Stansted Airport includes arguments on air quality. Discussions will centre on habitats rather than human exposure – deposition of NOx that could breach objectives.

AURN site gets whizzy
The UK Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) website has been revamped and updated with new functionalities and mapping capabilities to enhance data sharing and usage of information to the public.
l The new website is available at: www.bv-aurnsiteinfo.co.uk

New look for IAQM website
The Institute of Air Quality Management website has had a facelift in a bid to make it more user friendly.
l www.iaqm.co.uk.

Ship talks stall
The International Maritime Organisation has failed to agree any action on air pollution from ships.

Action plan laggards named
Authorities in England who have failed to produce action plans have been named in Parliament. A list has been published showing that many authorities are nearly two years behind schedule.

Court prompts waste oil rethink
A court case concerning the status of waste oil has prompted Defra and the Environment Agency to consult on introduction of a test to determine whether oil is waste or not.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/index.htm

NOx plane peaks
Air Quality Consultants has completed a report into short term NOx peaks from aircraft departing from Heathrow Airport.
l Analysis of fast-response NOx measurements at Heathrow Airport can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports

July 2007 headlines (issue 15)

Air kills more than traffic
More people are killed by air pollution than traffic accidents, it is claimed.

Council indicators a ‘badge of honour’
The Lifting the burdens task force has studied Defra’s brief and identified initiatives to be scrapped – including indicators on air quality.
l The Lifting the burdens task force review of Defra can be viewed on www.lga.gov.uk/ download.asp?path=/Documents/Publication/ LBTF_DEFRA.pdf

Agency wades into Heathrow growth debate
The Environment Agency has tabled its reservations about further expansion at Heathrow Airport.

Air consultancies ranked: AEA dominates
Air Quality Bulletin has contacted key consultants in the UK air quality market.

Time to tackle shipping emissions in Europe
A study for the European Commission has explored the cost effectiveness of measures with different options to reduce air emissions from shipping.

Filthy dirty ships
Brussels based campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E) and a coalition of environmental groups are calling for cuts in shipping emissions.

LTp fails to prompt air quality success
A review of local transport plan policy suggests progress has been ‘weak’ on air quality.
l Long term process and impact evaluation of the local transport plan policy www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ ltp/research/ltpoutcomes

Councils left out of climate change efforts
NSCA has responded robustly to the Climate Change Bill consultation. The Bill omits mention of local authority involvement.

US animal emissions
The US EPA is to carry out its first nationwide study of air emissions from poultry, dairy and pig animal feeding operations.
l More information about the study: www.epa.gov/ agriculture/airmonitoring study.html

News from last month’s Waterfront conference on local transport and air quality

Pollution worse than Chernobyl
The impact of air pollution is worse than Chernobyl, CEH researcher Jim Smith told the Waterfront transport and air quality conference.

Non-London councils told to use LEZ powers
Laws used to introduce the London low emission zone could be used to introduce similar zones across the country, claims a planning lawyer.

Conference briefs
Nicky Woodfield: “Local development frameworks are being prepared and are failing to properly take into account air quality,” planning expert Nicky Woodfield told the Waterfront conference.

Sir John Lawton (in combatitive form) Sir John Lawton, head of the RCEP, said: “I’ve heard that major bus operators are using cerium oxide as an additive in the fuel which then comes out of the exhaust in the form of fine particles.

EPP manual: first glimpse
Defra has launched a consultation on the shape of the manual that will support new Environmental Permitting Programme (EPP) regulation.
l Consultation on the Environmental Permitting Programme: draft revision of the General Guidance Manual can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/epp-guidance/index.htm

EIC costs Part B review
The Environmental Industries Commission has challenged the merits of plans to deregulate Part B local authority regulated processes.
l www.eic-uk.co.uk

Virgin trial biofuel for cross country train
Virgin has launched Europe's first biodiesel blend train in scheduled passenger service from Llandudno to London.

Last but not least…
Scotland has finally got its own dedicated government sponsored air quality website.
l www.scottish airquality.co.uk

LAPC changes
Charges to cover the costs of local enforcing authorities in regulating petrol stations have changed.
l 2006 annual report for the UK black smoke network can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Refinery emissions
Oil industry group Concawe has released a report detailing emissions of air pollutants, and how they are derived, to support preparation of data for the European pollution register (E-PRTR).
l Air pollutant emission estimation methods for E-PRTR reporting by refineries can be viewed on www.concawe.be/ Content/Default.asp? PageID=11

Mills to market the Magee
Air Quality Monitors’ Jim Mills is to market the Magee black carbon aethalometer. The exclusive distributor deal with Magee Scientific follows Thermo’s decision to directly sell Teoms itself rather than relying on solely on Mills.
l www.airmonitors.co.uk

Environmental expenditure tops £3bn
Defra has released its 2005 environmental protection expenditure survey.
l Environmental protection expenditure survey by industry 2005 can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk

Industry awards to reward air quality
The inaugural Rushlight Awards have been launched to promote and celebrate the achievements of the leading UK and Irish environmental technology and innovation.
l To find out more and to enter the awards (closing date 31 October 2007) visit www.rushlightawards.co.uk

Casella goes Swiss
Casella ETI has been appointed by Swiss firm Digitel as its UK and Ireland distributor.
l www.casellaeti.com

More intercomparison for FDMS
A minor modification to the Teom FDMS has prompted a new set of intercomparison trials being carried out at Teddington.

BAA backs Heathrow
BAA has joined Future Heathrow, the campaign for the sustainable growth of Heathrow Airport, saying that the expansion of the airport is vital to UK competitiveness.

King carbon call
The King Review of low-carbon cars will end next month.
l www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/king

Best practice guide
A guide on traffic and air quality impacts has been produced for the West London Alliance (WLA) air quality cluster group.
l The Guide to Traffic and Air Quality Impacts is available to download from the ‘Projects’ page of the West London Air Quality Group website www.westlondonairquality.org.uk

London seminar
Following the success of ERG’s London Air Quality Network seminar in January, it is planning to hold a further seminar on 9th July 2007.
l www.londonair.org.uk/lon don/reports/AgendaAQMeasurementSeminar9thJuly2007DraftAgenda.pdf

Physiotherapists again
A ‘new’ analysis of “highly toxic pollutants” has once again made national newspaper headlines.
l www.csp.org.uk

Agency prosecutes for smoke
A firm has been fined following release of black smoke.

Non-tailpipe emissions studied by TRL
TRL has completed a set of reports into non tailpipe emission from vehicles.
l The reports on road vehicle non-exhaust particulate matter can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Heavy metal hotspots listed by AEA
A report has been released summarising levels of heavy metals in the UK.
l Annual report for 2006 on the UK heavy metals monitoring network is available on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Dust done in Brussels
DustConf 2007 brought 285 people from 23 countries together to discuss the more obscure side of dust and particles.
l Papers can be downloaded from www.dustconf.org

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June 2007 headlines (issue 14)

London will get LEZ
The final go ahead has been given to London’s low emission zone. Mayor Ken Livingstone is describing it as the ‘world’s largest’.
l www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/default.aspx

EU urged to take the UK to court
An increasingly vocal clean air lobby group has called on the European Commission to censure the UK for failing to meet UK air quality objectives.
l www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1956

Euro 6 standard to count
Euro 6 vehicle emission limits are set to include a particle number limit as well as a particle mass limit.

AQ fears rejected
A planning inspector has rejected air quality and noise fears in a planning appeal judgement in Sandwell.

...and in Congleton
A Congleton family has had planning permission for a new bungalow turned down.

A raft of government policies affecting air quality have been released

Future energy plans unveiled
More nuclear, coal and renewables are a feature of the new Energy White Paper released by Government last month.
l Energy White Paper: meeting the energy challenge can be viewed on the DTi’s website or www.gnn.gov.uk/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.asp?MediaDetailsID=203153

Biomass encouraged with AQ safeguards
The Government has launched a biomass strategy to coincide with its new Energy White Paper (see news above).
l Defra’s biomass strategy can be viewed on www.defra.gov. uk/environment/climatechange/ uk/energy/renewablefuel/ index.htm

Incineration retained
Alongside new energy, planning and road pricing proposals, environment secretary David Miliband has announced a new strategy on waste.
l Waste strategy for England 2007 can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/waste/strategy/

Planning shake up laid out
The widely anticipated shake up of the planning system is outlined in a new White Paper.
l Planning for a sustainable future www.communities.gov. uk/embedded_object.asp?id=1510669

PPS23 vulnerable?
Rumours have been circulating that planning policy statements and guidance on specific issues (such as PPS23 on air quality and PPG24 on noise) will be axed in favour of more overarching policy statements contained in an expanded PPS1 Delivering sustainable development.

Local Transport Bill to cut emissions?
A proposed Local Transport Bill has been released for consultation by the Government. The Bill includes powers for local authorities to bring forward road pricing and includes stronger bus powers.
l Strengthening local delivery: The draft Local Transport Bill Volume 1: A consultation can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/ regional/localtransportbill/

News from the Met office/AEA air quality forecasting conference held in Exeter
(Conference papers can be downloaded from www.air quality.co.uk/archive/reports/ reports.php?action=latest)

May episode caused by fires?
Claire Witham of the Met Office told last month’s Exeter forecasting conference of efforts to prove that a high particle episode in early 2006 was caused by Russian forest fires.

Health forecasting: update from HPA
The Met Office released more details of the health savings possible from forecasting weather and air quality events.

2006 heatwave probe
Last year’s hot early summer period led to a heatwave and air quality event approaching the proportions of the 2003 heatwave event.

Negtap to be reformed
Janet Dixon, Defra air quality science manager, told the air quality forecasting conference in Exeter that Negtap (the National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution) is to be reformed to update its 2002 report.

Help needed on ‘bridge’ AQMA
Renfrewshire is seeking advice from local authorities on what constitutes an air quality management area.
l Email heather.connolly @ renfrewshire.gov.uk

Council input needed on global warming
Councils are being asked to contribute to guidance on what they should be doing to combat global warming.
l Consultation on guidance to local authorities in England and Wales on climate change mitigation and fuel poverty www.dti.gov.uk/publications

New environmental indicators for councils
A report has been released on ways that local environmental quality can be measured.
l Local environmental quality – A new view on measurement www.communities.gov.uk/ index.asp?id=1510309

Brett lifts Holman
Dr Claire Holman has recently been promoted to director of environment and sustainability at Peter Brett Associates.

Climate health effects set out
A report on the health effects of climate change has been updated. A draft has been released by the Health Protection Agency for the Department of Health for consultation.
l The updated report is at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publications andstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_074439

ERG loses Kent county network to AEA
AEA has won a three-year contract for the management of the Kent & Medway Air Quality Monitoring Network previously managed by Kings ERG.
l The site can still be found at www.kentair.org.uk.

More details emerge on Mcerts
More details have emerged from the Mcerts conference held in Bretby in April.

Casella goes Bulgarian
Casella Monitor has won its largest contract in the history of Casella and probably in the European ambient market in the past decade.
l website www.casella measurement.com

Idiot’s guide to cost accounting
Defra’s PPC team has prepared a ‘lite’ version of its cost accounting guidance.
l The ‘lite’ guide can be found on www.defra.gov. uk/environment/ppc/ index.htm

Gas forum launched
A national forum on bio-methane as a road transport fuel was launched at the recent Naturally Gas conference on alternative fuels hosted by Cenex in partnership with the NSCA and the Natural Gas Vehicle Association.
l To join the forum email edearnley@nsca.org.uk

New PPC Certificate
A new training course has been established in Pollution Prevention and Control intended to provide the knowledge that underpins IPPC/PPC.
l www.nsca.org.uk

Responses outlined
Defra and the DCLG has outlined the responses received to its consultation Options for improving the way planning and pollution control regimes work together in delivering new development.
l Summary of responses to the planning and pollution control interface consultation can be viewed on the website www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509556

New EPA tool to answer air quality questions
AirCompare, a new US Environmental Protection Agency-developed air quality tool has been launched to provide American householders with detailed air quality information.
l View AirCompare on www.epa.gov/aircompare/

Scheme appraisal update
There is to be a ‘strategic refresh’ of the whole New Approach to Appraisal (NATA) guidance being carried out in anticipation of its 10th anniversary in 2008.
l WebTAG web site www.webtag.org.uk

Tube database update
A number of changes have taken place to the Diffusion Tube Database since the last release in February 2007.
l New version download www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/diffusiontube300307.xls

Indicator finalised
The Government’s air quality indicator has been finalised. 2006 figures showed a significant worsening on the previous year when launched in draft form (AQB February p1). The rural indicator was confirmed at 56 days rather than the 57 in draft indicator.
l The indicator can be viewed on www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/

ET not ETI
In our report on Mcerts last month, early editions of AQB ascribed Enviro Technology (ET)’s Opsis monitor to ETI. Opsis is of course marketed in the UK by Enviro Technology. We apologise for this error.
l www.et.co.uk

IPPC costed
An early analysis of the costs and benefits of the implementation of the IPPC Directive in the UK was commissioned by Defra and the devolved administrations.
l Mid-term review of the UK’s implementation of the PPC regulations www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/index.htm

PPC responses posted
Responses to the recent consultation on merging waste planning and pollution regulatory regimes has been posted.
l www.communities.gov. uk/embedded_object.asp?id=1509793

EU polls on IPPC
The European Commission is carrying out an internet consultation on the future of industrial IPPC regulation.
l http://ec.europa.eu/your voice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=ippc

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May 2007 headlines (issue 13)

NOx shift lifts NO2 by 20%
The realisation that modern engines produce more direct nitrogen dioxide has prompted the update of the official NO2/NOx calculator.
l www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/mfaqroad.html#ROAD13

Oxford miracle?
The Oxford transport strategy has had a direct impact on child health, claim researchers.

Monitors miss NOx eating effect from paint
Monitors placed to record the impact of NOX eating paint in the City of London have failed to see any effect.

News from the NSCA spring workshop held in Didcot last month

Highways Agency in DMRB revamp
The Highways Agency’s Michelle Hackman told NSCA spring workshop delegates that that research was underway with a view to updating the commonly used DMRB air quality screening module.

Councils help agency with tube survey
50 local authorities have helped the Agency study the impact of its roads.

Dixon updates on Defra network revamp
Defra is now well into its expensive upgrade of its monitoring network to comply with EU directive requirements.

Groundhog Daly
Mark Daly of Sheffield, winner of the AQB ‘most reported’ person award presented at the NSCA workshop

Opal bid mounted
Air quality is a theme of a huge £12m bid for Lottery funding.

LTP2 reporting note
DfT has indicated there will be no local transport plan progress reports required from local authorities in 2007
l More details in a frequently asked question on the action plan helpdesk which can be found on www.bv-actionplan.co.uk/faqs.asp

Air quality target to be merged
The joint Defra-DfT public service agreement (PSA) on air quality is set to be replaced.

More delays for strategy
The revamped air quality strategy is being delayed yet further. It was due by the end of last year, but it looks like it may be much later this year – essentially a year late due to the complexity of the task.

NSCA has vision – and seeks name change
Acting NSCA chief Phil Mulligan updated workshop delegates on progress for the organisation’s revamp.

Tidmarsh marches
Defra local air quality number two Carole Tidmarsh has moved to the Government Office Partnership Unit.

News from tenth Institute of Environment and Health meeting at Cranfield

PM worse than cigs
Particle pollution has a far more important health impact on individuals than second hand tobacco smoke or traffic accidents, Edinburgh researchers suggest.

Seaton: heart drugs protective?
Aberdeen researchers came up with a ‘completely unexpected result’ when extending a study into air pollution and heart problems.

Black smoke effects explored by APHEA2
Results from the pan European APHEA2 project have thrown up some ‘unexpected’ results says Athens’ Klea Katsouyani.

SO2 to blame for heatwave deaths?
Analysis of the 2006 early-summer heatwave suggests that SO2 may be to blame for increased deaths.

Stone: PM not all the same
Napier University’s Vicki Stone told the audience that not all small particles are the same, and that nanoparticles and ultrafines should not be confused.

Black smoke affects birthweight?
A study by Newcastle University suggests that black smoke might affect birthweight.

Arsenic: what to do with high concentrations
Jo Barnes of the Cornwall Air Quality Forum, speaking to the Institute of Environment and Health meeting at Cranfield last month, said that there was over 720 sq m of land contaminated with arsenic in the south west of England, more than half in West Cornwall. The arsenic arose from heavy mining activity in the past both as a waste product and having been mined in its own right.

Big shift
Defra’s Tim Williamson told the conference that the move towards exposure reduction “is the biggest shift in policy since the Clean Air Act”.

No infant mortality?
 A large study of infant deaths suggests that air pollution is not to blame.

Epaqs and Comeap to be merged
Two air quality expert groups are to be merged, Defra and the Department of Health have announced.
l Independent report: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/panels/aqs/index.htm

Good and bad news for FDMS
New-style FDMS Teoms particle monitors are being rolled out into the Welsh air quality network – but their performance has been patchy.
l Welsh Air Quality Forum: www.welshairquality.co.uk

Sussex extends text alerting....
Sussex authorities’ Airalert text service has restarted again for the summer.
l www.sussex-air.net

and London text extended...
 Croydon’s Airtext service, based on Cerc modelling, is being extended across much of London.
l www.airtext.info

UK weather prompts ozone damage to crops
Sussex crops and vegetation are at risk from ozone, delegates were told at a recent conference. Complaints have led to spot checks on firms operating under the mcerts monitoring equipment certification scheme.

Monitoring on show
Jack Pease visited the popular mcerts exhibition and conference held at Bretby last month

MCERTS spot checks
Complaints have led to spot checks on firms operating under the mcerts monitoring equipment certification scheme.

Gas analyser wins mcerts approval
Casella Measurement, which includes Casella ETi has recently been successful in attaining mcerts approval for its four ME 9800 range of air quality analysers.

Casella: new gravimetric device
Casella also had the DHA 80 high volume sampler on its stand.

Opsis monitors mcerts car park
Enviro Technology (Not ET as in early editions of our paper edition - apologies) was demonstrating its Opsis equipment which has mcerts approval.

Many pollutants for Airpointer
Air Monitors is continuing to make progress with its Airpointer multiple pollutant monitor.

Bad air v climate change
AQEG has completed its huge and intricate report into air quality and climate change

Oops, sorry we’re late
Defra has apologised to local authorities and operators for forgetting to point out that operators of Part 2 processes must start gathering data for the European pollutant register.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/index.htm

Good weather, bad air
Kings College ERG reported widespread moderate PM10 particulate was measured throughout London and south east England between the Sunday 25th March and Wednesday 28th March.
l www.londonair.org.uk

PM petitioned on air
A London residents’ group is coordinating a petition demanding that the Government meet World Health Organisation air quality standards in London.
l The petition can be signed on http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/LondonCleanAir/

Last but not least…
Scotland has finally got its own dedicated government sponsored air quality website.
l The site can be found at www.scottishairquality.co.uk

R&P works closed
R&P’s factory near New York is to be closed, Thermo has announced.

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April 2007 headlines (issue 11) 

Air quality ‘top priority’
A high level Government review of local authority regulatory priorities has seen air quality ranked top.
l  The Rogers Review can be viewed on http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/reviewing_regulation/rogers_review/index.asp

Urban environment scrutinised by RCEP
Air quality features highly in a high profile report on the UK’s urban environment.
l  The Urban environment is the Commission’s 26th report and can be viewed on www.rcep.org.uk/ urbanenvironment.htm

Huge risk for women
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution is pondering a study that suggested air pollution has a huge effect on women.
l  Long-term exposure to air pollution and incidence of cardiovascular disease in women – Miller et al (2007) http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/356/5/447

ET conquers network
Defra has decided to install BAM1020 PM10 monitors from Enviro Technology within its AURN (Automatic Urban and Rural) air pollution monitor network.

Budget rounds on pollution
Gordon Brown’s March Budget contained many measures that will affect air pollution, both short term and long term.

Thermo to discontinue older Teoms
Thermo Scientific has announced it is discontinuing manufacturing (and eventually support) of some of its older Teoms and other instruments. The old Teoms were developed by R&P which was recently taken over by Thermo.
l  Discontinuation notices are published on the Thermo Fisher Scientific – Air Quality Instruments website, www.thermo.com/air

Four scoop Beacon award
Four authorities – Sefton, Sheffield, Croydon and Greenwich – have won their bid for Beacon status for air quality excellence. Kensington and Chelsea was the only entrant not to win but was highly commended.

Climate change coup
Beacons take place in distinct rounds and the choice of air quality in round eight was welcomed by Defra’s air quality team.
l  http://beacons.idea.gov.uk

Action plans and LTPs: reporting guidance
New guidance has been produced for councils who have wrapped up their air quality action plans with their local transport plans.
l  Frequently asked questions on action plans can be seen at www. bv-actionplan.co.uk/faqs.asp

News from the PTRC/Bristol transport & air quality conference

Winchester performs Miracles
Winchester is taking part in an EU Miracles project which aims to demonstrate ways of improving air quality.

London low emission zone: dates revealed
Delegates to the Bristol conference were updated on how plans for the London low emission zone were progressing.

Microscale action planning in Coventry
The Bristol conference was told how action was being carried out at the very local level in Coventry.

NOx-eating paving gives 20% cut
The Bristol PTRC transport and air quality conference heard from Camden which has been trialling NOX -eating paving. Early results suggest the paving may have cut local NOX concentrations by 20%.

Lowdown on low emission zone studies
Tom Parker of Transport and Travel Research told the Bristol conference of his thinking behind low emission zones. The firm has been involved in some high profile studies of cities such as Sheffield and Bristol seeking to cut emissions.

Air quality fears prompt London study
The Central London Air Quality Cluster Group (central London borough air quality officers) has set up a working group to look at the current drive towards sustainable development, with regard to the way that emerging policies have the potential to impact on local air quality.

Bristol nags 700 gross polluters
Over 700 drivers of high polluting vehicles in the Bristol area have received letters from the council.

Near-road impacts studied
Defra has released a report showing the impact of pollution near major roads. It was completed some time ago but has only just been made public.
l The report is available from www.defra.gov.uk/science/project_data/DocumentLibrary/AQ03507/AQ03507_4703_FRP.doc

Dioxin discussions focus on future monitoring
Monitor firm Quantitech recently held a seminar discussing current dioxins monitoring issues and a new MCERTS-approved system developed to sample dioxins over longer periods.
l More details from Quantitech 01908 227722

Sheng joins SLR as Cambridge principal
SLR Consulting has appointed Dr Xiangyu Sheng as a new principal at its Cambridge office.

California tightens NO2
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has approved new, stricter standards for nitrogen dioxide.
l  www.arb.ca.gov

Hull tests drivers
Hull City Council is working with enforcement officers from VOSA to test vehicles entering the city.

Ozone high in Europe
Summer ozone levels exceeded the EU’s long-term target level in 2006, threatening the health of Europeans, according to a report released by the European Environment Agency.
l  Air pollution by ozone in Europe in summer 2006 http://reports.eea.europa.eu/technical_report_2007_5

Model used to predict direct NO2
Defra has released a report showing how a rudimentary model could be used to predict direct NO2 emissions.
l  Primary nitrogen dioxide emissions from road traffic can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/ reports/list.php

Cutting CO2 and emissions
The Department for Transport is sponsoring a campaign on ecodriving aiming to cut CO2 and other vehicle pollution. Radio adverts urge drivers to change gear earlier to reduce emissions in DfT’s Act on CO2 campaign www.dft.gov.uk/ActOnCO2

Own indicator for NI
Northern Ireland now has its own air quality indicator.
l  Air quality trends in Northern Ireland www. airqualityni.co.uk/reports

National burner plan
Defra is consulting on the operation of the UK National Emission Reduction Plan
l  www.defra.gov.uk/corp orate/consult/emission-reductionplan/index.htm

West London talks
The air quality cluster of the West London Alliance is holding a free workshop on the afternoon of 17th April
l  www.westlondonairquality. org.uk/default.asp

Charges agreed
Local authority pollution control charges will increase by between 2% and 3%, it has been decided.
l  www.defra.gov.uk/environ ment/ppc/localauth/fees-risk/fees.htm

Bull to direct
Arup has promoted air quality planning and modelling specialist MIchael Bull to director level.

Hybrid double decker
 The world's first hybrid diesel electric double-decker bus has gone into service on route 141 in London, Transport for London (TfL) has announced.

EMAQ+ seminars
EMAQ+ is running a seminar in May entitled Action Planning – examples to be held in Bradford on 3rd May, Birmingham on 17th May and London on 23rd May. In June seminars cover emission monitoring and are entitled Monitoring problem particulates and will be held on 14th June in Bradford, 20th June in London and 26th June in Bristol.
l  www.emaq.aeat.com/ seminars.php

Short haul cut
Aviation protest group HACAN ClearSkies has called for a cut in short haul flights at Heathrow to improve air quality in London.

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March 2007 headlines (issue 11)

MPs savage air progress
MPs on the House of Commons Transport Committee have torn into the Government for its lack of progress in meeting targets – including one on air quality.
l Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Defra’s Departmental Report 2006 and Defra’s budget Second Report of Session 2006–07 www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmtran/95/95.pdf

Time to bid for £2.4m
Air quality grants worth £2.4m – the same as in previous years – are up for grabs.
l The 2007/08 letter, applic- ation forms and 2006/07 pro- gress forms can be seen on www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/airquality/ local/aqgrant/index.htm

Air quality thwarts Tesco extension in Kent
An extension to a Tesco store has been refused planning permission with air quality cited as a key reason.
l Tesco’s air quality assessment can be viewed on http://publicaccess. sevenoaks. gov.uk/upload/ publicaccess/0602765_T9-5%20(12117).pdf

Rugby given OK to burn tyres
The Environment Agency is to allow Cemex to burn waste tyres at its Rugby cement plant – despite a recent £400,000 fine against the operator for excess emissions.

Enviro mailshot earns rebuke
In the latest episode of the Teom v Bam particle monitoring saga, Bam-seller Enviro Technology has been criticised by Defra for over-enthusiastic sales literature.
NB: In our print edition we inadvertently suggested Enviro had said that 2006 was the key switchover date - that was our mistake and the correct date is 2008. Apologies for this error.

Royal Society probes climate and air quality
UK science institution the Royal Society is launching a probe into air quality and climate change. It will report at the end of the year.
l The deadline for submissions to the inquiry is 23rd March. www.royalsoc.ac.uk/policy.

Wilts: Pig farmer in trouble
A pig farmer in Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire has lost his appeal against failing to get a permit for his rendering plant.

Abatement notice first, demands High Court
Newcastle City Council has lost a High Court case and been told it should have first served an abatement notice on a farmer causing a nuisance through open burning.
l The Barns (NE) Ltd v Newcastle Upon Tyne CC [2006] Env LR 25 (Court of Appeal, Civ. Div.)

Blow for persistent complainers
The Information Commissioner has struck another blow to persistent complainers in a new ruling. The news comes a month after the Local Authority Ombudsman issued guidance on how to deal with persistent complainers (AQB February p6).
l Full decision notice www.ico.gov.uk

Vehicle size key to savings?
A study carried out for Camden council tries to rank the ‘greenness’ of various vehicles in terms of air quality
l The report was commissioned by the London Borough of Camden email Gloria.Esposito@camden.gov.uk

Local authorities declare and undeclare AQMAs
While more and more authorities appear to be declaring air quality management areas, some are revoking – and some can’t make up their mind

Port to declare?
Another coastal port may have to declare for sulphur dioxide from shipping.
l www.suffolkcoastal.gov. uk/yourcouncil/haveyoursay

Green fuels consultation
The Government has launched a consultation on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), and how it will operate.
l More details can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/ consultations/open/draftrtfo


Emission plan probe
Defra has launched a consultation on establishing the operation of the UK National Emission Reduction Plan (NERP) under the Large Combustion Plants Directive (LCPD).
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate /consult/emission-reduction plan/consultation.pdf

Virgin cuts ground emissions
Aircraft operator Virgin is cutting emissions of planes on the ground using ‘starting grids’.

Welsh list monitoring activities
Welsh local authorities have been told of monitoring activity carried out in the country in the last year.
l The Welsh Air Quality Forum newsletter can be seen at www.welshairquality.co.uk/ index.php

Congestion charge extended: London busier
The London congestion zone has been enlarged to include an area of west London as well as central London.

Roadbox fit for hotspot monitoring
Enviro Technology Services, has launched its Roadbox compact air quality monitoring system designed for roadside and hot-spot monitoring applications.
l Enviro Technology email Stephen.hoskin@et.co.uk

Cold snap pollution
London’s ERG has reported a PM10 alert in London following recent snow falls.

Threat to biofuel growth
Biofuels – held out as a panacea to global warming and pollution problems – are under threat because of soaring commodity prices.

Further push by Sheffield for ecodriving
Sheffield’s Care4Air’s marketing firm Diva is encouraging local businesses to train their drivers in ‘ecodriving’.

Test to include ecodriving
The UK theory driving test is being expanded from 35 to 50 questions and will include topics such as ecodriving and other environmental issues, the Driving Standards Agency says.

More LEZ gripes
London’s low emission zone has come in for more criticism from logistics firms.

Nottingham goes for ethanol
Nottingham City Council is to examine the environmental, technical, operational and business case for using buses fuelled by ethanol.

Aviation pollution talks
Manchester’s Centre for Aviation and the Environment is holding a conference titled Safeguarding airport air quality: angles of approach on 12th April in Manchester
l www.cate.mmu.ac.uk

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February 2007 headlines (issue 10)

Air pollution worsens
The government has admitted that air quality is getting worse.
l The indicator can be viewed on www.sustainable-development.gov.uk.

Bexley declaration: treat roads as car parks
Bexley is to declare its entire borough joining the majority of London boroughs who have taken this approach.

Odour judgement questions H4
The Environment Agency’s failure to ratify its H4 guidance on odour has drawn criticism from a planning inquiry judge.

News from the Sussex Air quality steering group health message conference

Sussex sufferers get 27 alerts
Asthmatic Sussex residents received 27 bad air warnings last year, coordinator Nigel Jenkins told the Sussex Air Quality Steering Group conference last month.

Croydon’s alerting service set for expansion
Croydon’s Clive Simmonds, also speaking at the conference, outlined how his borough’s alerting system (AQB December 2006 p5) was working.

Met Office reveals impact of episodes
The Met Office told the Sussex Air conference of its episode alerting service for COPD.

Duplicated systems?
The conference heard that there were now three different and competing systems in operation in the UK for warning patients of bad air and weather. Speakers from Europe said that systems were also up and running

News from the January ERG London air quality network meeting

Primary PM10 is increasing
ERG’s Gary Fuller, speaking at the ERG London network conference held in London last month, warns that primary PM10 is increasing rather than falling as expected.

Modern vehicles not as clean as hoped
Legislation has not delivered emissions savings as had been expected, claimed Jurgen Schneider of the German Umweltbundesamt talking to the ERG meeting held in London last month.

Congestion charge to promote clean cars
The London congestion charge may be tweaked to encourage use of cleaner vehicles, Sarah Legge of the GLA told the ERG conference.

Traffic linked to air quality in CC monitoring
ERG’s Ben Barratt told the conference that new monitoring would plug the gap between traffic data and air quality.

Child lung damage
In a widely reported article, medical weekly The Lancet has said that motorway pollution has serious impacts on child lung development.
l The article can be viewed on www.thelancet.com

Alfred McAlpine swallows Enviros
Civil engineering firm Alfred McAlpine plc has bought environmental consultancy Enviros.

Permit deregulation leaflet proposed
A draft of a leaflet explaining how permits are to be deregulated under the Environmental Permitting Programme has been produced by Defra and the Welsh Assembly for consultation.
l EPP website: www.defra.gov. uk/environment/epp
l Consultation on the principles of a unified charging framework website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/ consultations/1692070/

Latest LAPC statistics released by Defra
Defra has released its yearly survey of local authority pollution and control activities.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ ppc/localauth/pubs/reports/pdf/manage-summary-stats0506.pdf

Consultation: how to do it
UWE has produced a guide on proper consultation and offers ‘ten steps’ to doing it better
l www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/esrc

Scotland promotes
Ecodriving A new campaign to encourage car commuters in the Central Belt to adopt eco-friendly driving habits was launched today by celebrity commentator Murray Walker.

Persistent complainers: help
The Local Government Ombudsman has issued advice on how to deal with persistent complainers.
l www.lgo.org.uk

Portsmouth consultation includes ‘Portair’
Portsmouth has held a conference to explore possible action to improve air quality.
l www.portair.co.uk

Europe agrees cleaner fuel standards
A decision has been delayed on vehicle emissions standards, but Europe has agreed on tougher fuel limits that will improve air quality.

Defra explains how to tot up damage costs
Air quality damage costs were explained in Defra methodology released before Christmas.
l Air quality interim damage cost guidance can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/panels/igcb/guidance/ index.htm

Good marks for best value
Local authorities appear to have done quite well in the ‘best value’ rankings of their performance in air quality.
l 2005/06 Comprehensive best value performance indicator guidance can be viewed on www.audit-commission.gov.uk/performance/guidance.asp
l BVPI results can be found on www.audit-commission.gov.uk/ performance/dataprovision.asp

PPC web upgrade
Defra’s PPC webpages have been updated and re-styled.
l www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/ppc/index.htm

Fenland reviews
Air Quality Consultants has been appointed to assist Fenland District Council with all its air quality work for the next two years.

Ozone event analysis
An AEA report details an ozone incident in the hot weather last year.
l Air pollution forecasting: Ozone pollution episode report (June-July 2006)
www.airquality.co.uk/ archive/reports/reports.php?action=latest

LEZ ‘a shambles’
Mayor Livingstone and Transport for London’s plans to introduce a low emission zone regarding the operation of lorries within the M25 are very seriously flawed claims the Freight Transport Association.

Wycombe monitored
Wycombe District Council is using a £15,000 grant from Defra to set up a new air quality monitoring in the district.

Bus quality corridors
The Government has announced a rethink on bus policy that could lead to a shake up of the way bus operators are reimbursed.
l Putting passengers first can be viewed on www.dft. gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/divisionhomepage/613801.hcsp

Broadmead bung
A developer in Bristol has promised £475,000 for air quality work in a huge planning gain (section 106) agreement.

Rugby legal and planning challenge
Protesters against Cemex’s Rugby cement plant have won the right to appeal against a judgement that went against them in 2006.

Emissions inventories in print
AEA has released an update of its comprehensive guide to UK emissions across the period 1970-2004.
l UK Emissions of Air Pollutants 1970 to 2004 can be viewed on www.naei.org.uk

Cash for ‘green’ fuel
The DTi and private investors have giving an Oxfordshire biotechnology firm half a million pounds to develop a new low-cost

Flurry of air reports released
AEA has released reports on air quality in 2005 for Wales, Northern Ireland and the UK.  The Welsh report is available on www.welshairquality.co.uk the Northern Ireland report on  www.airqualityni.co.uk and the UK report on  www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/reports.php?action=latest

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January 2007 headlines (issue 9)

Upgrade to cost millions
Defra is struggling to find money to comply with new EU air quality testing requirements.

Thermo reigns in Teom
Teom manufacturer Thermo has announced it will sell its own Teom particle monitors, endings its preferred seller arrangement with Jim Mills at Air Monitors.

News from the December iapsc meeting held in London

New results question FDMS intercomparison
Just as it was thought that some certainty had been agreed in particle measurement, new results presented to the latest Investigation of Air Pollution Standing Conference (Iapsc) held in Birmingham suggests the newly Defra-approved FDMS Teom is not as equivalent as first thought.

Dust dominates Fuller’s 50
ERG’s Gary Fuller outlined his ‘top 50’ monitoring sites headed up by many with exceedences caused by waste dust.

FDMS: ERG reveals teething problems
Iapsc delegates heard from the King’s London ERG team how the FDMS Teom particle monitor was working in practice.

Exposure reduction: is it fair?
Exposure reduction – the term given to ‘evenly’ improving air quality, may reduce the burden of bad air quality on the poor.

Delays creep into network update
Installation of new FDMS Teoms into the national automatic monitoring network (AURN) has been slightly delayed, Bureau Veritas’s Richard Maggs told the Iapsc audience.

Budget disappoints
There were few measures contained in the December pre Budget report to please those seeking further curbs on transport and pollution.

Rugby seeks £500,000 monitoring partner
Rugby Borough Council is seeking bids for provision of air quality consultancy services for the next five years. The European Journal procurement website suggests the contract is worth £500,000.

News from the Society of Chemical Engineers AAMG meeting  www.aamg-rsc.org/

Shift from equity to efficiency
Air quality policy is moving from one based on social equity to social efficiency, policy expert Paul Watkiss told the RSC AAMG conference.

Air quality policy driven by particles
Continuing his discussion on the use of cost benefit analysis for air quality decision making, Watkiss said that health costs of particles dominate economic benefits.

Holgate: particle mass measurement ‘banal’
Southampton air quality and asthma specialist Stephen Holgate told the AAMG conference of the impact of pollution on respiratory health – especially children.

Cardiff bucks trend to undeclare
Cardiff council is undeclaring two of its four air quality management areas (AQMAs).

Rushcliffe undeclares
Rushcliffe Borough Council is formally undeclaring its Barnstone AQMA.

Reigate sets out action to deal with Gatwick
Reigate and Banstead has agreed an air quality action plan for Horley – an area hit by pollution from Gatwick Airport.

Drax trial extended
The Environment Agency says it needs extra time (until June 2007) to assess any health risk from burning petcoke at Drax power station.

Aviation act tackles air
The Civil Aviation Act received Royal Assent before Christmas. Among other things, it clarifies the ability of airports to set charges that reflect local air quality emissions from aircraft.

Progress report: wait and see on air quality
The much heralded air transport White Paper progress report has been published by the Government.
l The progress report can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=17484&l=2

Stern review
The ‘Stern’ review of transport has reiterated the Government’s view that airports should seek to meet growing aviation demand, arguing the economic benefits outweigh environmental damage.

LTp air efforts ranked
DfT has published its ranking of final local transport plan bids. Air quality input into those bids has been judged to be much improved.

AQB ‘yardstick’ sees 2006 rise
Analysis by Air Quality Bulletin sees 2006 as a bad air year - but not as bad as 2003.

Scotland’s green laws
The Scottish Executive is consulting on its environmental regulations.
l Strengthening and streamlining: the way forward for the enforcement of environmental law in Scotland can be viewed on www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/11/22152827/0

LEZ fleet impacts
London boroughs are consulting on the impact of the London low emission zone on council vehicle fleets.
l Details email jared.boow@londoncouncils.gov.uk

Dioxin seminar touted
Quantitech has issued an open invitation to attend a seminar on techniques and technologies to monitor dioxins. The seminar will take place at the Open University in Milton Keynes on Thursday 22nd February 2007.
l Anyone interested in attending should email their contact details to quant@quantitech.co.uk.

NSCA ponders its future
NSCA has been through some difficult months with staff uncertainties and worries about funding and membership. It is currently consulting members on what it should do now.

New face for www.airquality.co.uk
Defra and the devolved region’s air quality website (www.airquality.co.uk) has received its first major facelift for four years.

ERG produces local pollution site for Hillingdon
ERG’s emissions team has developed new web based service to host local authority information relating to industrial sites – essentially an online public register.
l website www.emissions.hillingdon.gov.uk

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December 2006 headlines (issue 8)

Traffic light row halts AQMA
Politicians have declared an air quality management area in Bromley – but it will only come into force if they are given control over traffic lights.

Bonfire night smog ‘worst since 2001’ says ERG
Still, misty conditions led to last month’s bonfire night being the worst (in pollution terms) since 2001.

TIF bids: More grants
Further money has been allocated for authorities bidding for Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) pump priming funding.

News from the NSCA air quality update conference in Birmingham

Mixed response to LEZ findings
South Yorks has received a report from its consultants on the benefits of a low emission zone. The report could prompt argument among member authorities when it is discussed.

‘Wilful individual’ prompts air actions
David Muir of Bristol outlined some novel actions that the city was carrying out to improve air quality – some of which were prompted by ‘wilful individuals’.

Foster: filthy buses
Newcastle City Council’s Ed Foster told the NSCA conference how his authority was taking advantage of the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process to bring forward air quality action.

Clean emission firm fined for IPPC breach
Vehicle catalyst maker Johnson Matthey has been fined for breaching its IPPC licence.

ADMS 4 model nears completion
Software developer Cerc is nearing completion of ADMS 4 – a ‘major update’ on the current ADMS 3 dispersion model.

London network seminar
The 2007 London Air Quality Network seminar will be held on 19th January.
l www.londonair.org.uk/lon don/reports/Agenda_LAQN_ Seminar2007_provision

NECD consultation
Defra and the regions are consulting on a draft updated UK national programme in accordance with the European National Emissions Ceiling Directive.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/current.htm

Nuneaton to declare
Nuneaton is consulting on declaration of an air quality management area centred on the Leicester Road traffic gyratory system.

Strategy responses revealed
Defra and the Scottish Executive have released a summary of responses to the consultation on the air quality strategy carried out earlier this year (AQB May p7).
l Summary of responses can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/ corporate/consult/responses.htm

Croydon extends Airtext across London
Over 20 boroughs are likely to join up with Croydon to offer a mobile phone texting service warning of poor air quality.

Helpdesk FAQs answer PM10 questions
New ‘frequently asked questions’ have been added to Defra’s review and assessment website.
l The UWE review and assessment helpdesk is on www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/ mfaqpm.html

H2 buses worldwide
Six cities and regions in Europe and Canada are joining forces and buying zero-emissions hydrogen-powered buses under the major EU-assisted hydrogen and fuel cell bus project CUTE (Clean Urban Transport for Europe) scheme.
l www.hfpeurope.org/ www.global-hydrogen-bus-platform.com/

Leaf burning
The useful US Airnow website is urging residents not to burn leaves because of poor air quality.
l http://airnow.gov

Sussex health meeting
The Sussex Air Quality Steering Group (Sussex Air) is holding a seminar in Brighton on the 22nd January 2007 .
l www.sussex-air.net

LEZ standards studied
With local authorities around the country looking at low emission zones, what are the best standards to adopt?
The report is now being considered by the Commission, and comments are welcome. Additional material can be found on www.airqualitypolicy.co.uk, or from Lucy.Sadler@airqualitypolicy.co.uk

Beacon cash prompts beauty contest
The announcement that there might be money for air quality in the Beacon scheme has prompted a number of councils to bid for the cash. Five have been shortlisted.

London plots shape of LEZ
After years of talking about it – what could be the final consultation on the London low emission zone (LEZ) is taking place.

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November 2006 headlines (issue 7)

Double rap for Rugby
Anti cement plant campaigners are jubilant that Rugby plant operator Cemex has been hit with a huge £400,000 fine.

Review group adds to woes
Tyre burning has been heavily criticised in a Rugby Tyre Burning Review Group report.
l The report is available at: www.rugby.gov.uk/site/scripts/download_info.php?downloadID=1080&fileID=2024

WHO gets tough on PM and sulphur dioxide
The World Health Organisation has tabled guidelines that propose a step change in particle and sulphur dioxide limits – and a small tightening of ozone limits.
 l WHO air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide can be viewed on www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/ 2006/pr52/en/index.html
Download our wallchart or ask for a free copy in the post

The Beacon five
Five authorities – Sheffield, Sefton, Kensington & Chelsea, Greenwich and Croydon – have been shortlisted to become beacon authorities based on their air quality performance.
l www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk

Agency cuts AQMA
The Environment Agency is hailing the use of best available technology to avoid the need to declare an air quality management area in Barnsley.

Air directive see-saws back
The latest stage in the progress of European air quality directives sees some acceptance of the need for tight standards.

All go for £4m Message project
A new £4.1 million research project aimed at reducing traffic pollution through the use of mobile sensors has been revealed by transport minister Stephen Ladyman.

Biofuels could improve or worsen air quality
A huge report on the use and impacts of biofuels has been released by the Scottish Executive.
l Review of greenhouse gas life cycle emissions, air pollution impacts and economics of biomass production and consumption in Scotland can be viewed on www.scotland. gov.uk/Publications/ 2006/09/22094104/14

News from last month’s dispersion model users group meeting

Ammonia control ‘not easy’
The CEH’s Mark Sutton told the DMUG audience of the dangers of ammonia: “It’s difficult to control ammonia – if it was easy, we’d have already done it.”

Bull clears poultry farms of bird dust risk
Delegates at last month’s Dispersion Model Users Group meeting heard from Arup’s Michael Bull about tests near a South Norfolk poultry farm.

Defra to deploy FDMS in AURN
Defra will shortly begin deployment of Teom FDMS particle monitors in the automatic monitoring network, claims distributor Air Monitors.
l www.airmonitors.co.uk

Ireland splits Mott Macdonald’s
Matt Ireland is leaving to set up his own consultancy. I
l see MNA Advisory website www.localcarbon.co.uk

Petrol regs now in
Petrol Vapour Recovery stage II controls (PVRII) have come into force that will ensure larger petrol stations fit vapour recovery apparatus before January 2010.
l www.defra.gov.uk/news/ 2006/061023b.htm

US equivalence trials mooted
While the UK appears to have concluded that the Teom FDMS can be considered as equivalent to the European reference method
l http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/ 7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-8478.pdf

NSCA revamps key planning guide
NSCA has relaunched its guidance on how air quality should be handled within the planning process.

Association of London Government approves its guidelines
Meanwhile the Association of London Government (rebadging itself as London Councils) is updating its planning and air quality guidance, last revised in 2001. It has been prepared by the APPLE (Air Pollution Planning and the Local Environment) working group.

Yearly round up shows continued stall
The Environment in your Pocket, a booklet published annually detailing environmental trends and statistics, has celebrated its tenth anniversary.
l The environment in your pocket 2006 www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/indicators/ headline/index.htm

Monitoring key to chicken manure emissions
Quantitech has recently installed a multi-component FTIR gas analyser at the world’s first poultry litter fuelled power station in Eye, Suffolk.
l www.quantitech.co.uk

LAPC charges rise by 2% plus
Consultation is taking place on ‘risk based’ charges for local authority environmental regulation of industrial plant.
l Local authority environmental regulation of industrial plant: 2007/2008 risk based fees and charges can be viewed on www.defra.gov. uk/corporate/consult/localauth-plantfees07-08/index.htm

Small burner conundrum for Defra
Defra and the Welsh Assembly have released an air quality note on small burner regulation under LAPC.
l AQ17 (06) – Small waste oil burners and the WID www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/lapc/aqnotes/index.htm

Landfill burners deregulated
 A proposed amendment of PPC regulations aims to relax controls on landfill gas engines.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ppc-amendregs3/index.htm

Tractor emission plans
DfT is consulting on changes to emission standards for agricultural and forestry tractors.
l www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/ groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_613 458-01.hcsp#P23_453

Enforcement quick win
Enforcing speed limits would lead to a quick win in reducing vehicle emissions.
l www.ukerc.ac.uk

Widening cuts AQMA headcount
The Highways Agency says £122m rebuilding of the A2 Bean to Cobham road will reduce the number contained within an air quality management area.

Richmond taxes polluters
The London Borough of Richmond is consulting on plans to levy a higher parking charge for larger cars. Coupled with a 50% increase in charges for a second car, the aim is to encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport and use of smaller cars.
l www.richmond.gov.uk/ home/council_government_and_democracy/council/contacts_consultation_feedback/current_council_consultations/co2_consultation.htm

Tube data changed
The University of the West of England review and assessment helpdesk has announced a number of changes that have taken place to the diffusion tube database since the last release in March 2006. These are summarised in a new document and database containing tube factors.
l It can be viewed on www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/diffusiontube060906.xls

Further assessment example
A new example of a further assessment report has been added to the review and assessment helpdesk website.
l It can be found in the examples section of the review and assessment helpdesk website www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review


Scottish planning note revised
The Scottish Executive has reissued its PAN51 planning advice note on environmental protection and regulation.
l PAN 51 (revised 2006) planning, environmental protection and regulation can be viewed on www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/10/20095106/11

Late pollution event
Widespread moderate (up to 45 µg/m3) PM10 pollution was measured throughout London and south east England between Friday 13th and Tuesday 17th October 2006.
l  www.londonair.org.uk

Harrogate skipped
Harrogate was inadvertently missed in our review of air quality websites (AQB September p5). We are happy to say that the borough has a bright and cheerful website complete with ‘traffic light’ pollution levels that would easily have made three stars!
l The webpage can be found on: www.harrogate.gov.uk/ harrogate-916

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October 2006 headlines (issue 6)

Defra updates AQ progress
Defra air quality expert Carole Tidmarsh briefed last month’s South Yorkshire Care4Air conference on new developments in air quality.

London planning guide hits ‘final’ draft
A guide to air quality and planning in London may hinder attempts to build new homes in areas of exceedence – in effect nearly all of London.

Working group to probe particles from waste transfer sites
A London borough plagued by dust from a waste transfer site is calling on councils to share information on the problem.

News from the South Yorks Care4Air conference

Paving and paint to cut NOx
Trials of NOx ‘eating’ additives in paint and paving are showing early signs of success

Air grants: bids revealed
More details have emerged on the shape of air quality grant handed to local authorities in the current year (2006/07).

Air Monitors hits the web
Air Monitors says its latest Airpointer monitoring system can be hooked directly up to the web to allow near-real time interrogation by the public.
l Further information on Air Monitors website www.airmonitors.co.uk

Late summer pollution episode in London
In the unseasonably hot weather seen in September, widespread moderate PM10 particulate was measured throughout London and south east England on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th.
l www.londonair.org.uk

Tougher PM2.5 standards for US: PM10 revoked
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed a tightening of particle standards.
l More information www.epa.gov/pm/naaqsrev2006.html

Planning and pollution merge
A consultation has been launched aimed at merging planning and pollution controls for new development.
l Planning and pollution control: joint DCLG and Defra consultation on options for improving the way planning and pollution control regimes work together in delivering new development can be viewed on www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1502826

‘Nuts and bolts’ PPC consultation
Defra is consulting on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a simpler pollution regulation regime aimed at combining waste regulation and PPC permitting.
l Environmental permitting programme: Second consultation on proposals for creating a streamlined environmental permitting and compliance system can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/epp.

Widen scope of LAPC probe, says EIC
The Environmental Industries Commission is urging Defra to extend the scope of its probe into LAPC regulation of 17,000 smaller processes.
l www.eic-uk.co.uk

Euro 5 car standards agreed
Government is set to lobby Europe to tighten Euro 5 car emission standards agreed last month.
l www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/ groups/dft_roads/documents/ divisionhomepage/612515.hcsp

Vehicle tests prove direct NO2 fears
Tests on modern cars have confirmed fears that direct NO2 emissions may swamp the air quality benefits of cleaner cars.
l Effects of emerging vehicle technologies on emissions not currently regulated www.info4local.gov.uk/searchreport.asp?id=30409&heading=e-mail+alert

ADMS lifts estimates?
Users of the ADMS Roads dispersion model fear that a new revision could lead to higher estimates of air pollution near new roads.
l www.cerc.co.uk

Waste dust exposed at Iapsc
As Iapsc (the Investigation of Air Pollution Standing Conference) approaches its 40th anniversary, it is finalising its programme for its forthcoming 5th December meeting.
l http://www.iapsc.org.uk

Daly takes helm as Iapsc hits 40 year anniversary
High profile Sheffield City Council environmental health specialist Mark Daly is becoming chair of Iapsc.

Defra science in crisis
Civil servants have warned that science and research at Defra is ‘in crisis’
l Prospect union website www.prospect.org.uk

Small sources included
The European Commission has published its first inventory of pollution from small or non-industrial sources It includes scattered sources such as cars, airplanes, ships, household boilers and small farms – previously data has only been held on larger sources.
l www.eper.ec.europa.eu

New climate change office
The Government has set up a dedicated Office of Climate Change (OCC).

Price rise for PPC
The Environment Agency is proposing to lift its general regulation charges by an average of 2.3% for 2007/08.
l Charges consultation: proposed 2007/08 charging schemes www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/444669/587152/587236/504812/564216/

Taking precautions
Northern UK grouping SNIFFER has published two sets of guidance on the application of the precautionary principle following recent workshops.
l www.sniffer.org.uk

Two new AQ notes
Two new AQ Notes providing additional guidance notes on local authority industrial pollution control issues have been issued by Defra and the Welsh Assembly.
l AQ16 (06) – Latest PPC Amending Regulations; and AQ15 (06) – Environmental Permitting Programme – second consultation can be viewed on www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/airquality/lapc/ aqnotes/index.htm

UK fails to transpose
A survey has shown that the UK is lagging behind in implementing EU environmental legislation.
l Seventh annual survey on the implementation and enforcement of community environmental law 2005 can be seen on http://ec.europa.eu/environment/law/as05.htm

Car tax switch
A scheme to shake up vehicle taxation has survived its first reading at the European Parliament.
l www.europarl.europa.eu/ news/public/story_page/008-10383-247-09-36-901-20060906STO10382-2006-04-09-2006/default_en.htm

Beacon awards near
Round eight applications for Beacon status are due to be shortlisted this month.
l  www.idea.gov.uk

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September 2006 headlines (issue 5) 
 

Website Review: Chiltern is our local authority winner, Care4Air wins our 'other' category
We've ranked hundreds of air quality websites - we'll happily send you a free copy of the survey - drop us an email with your snail address to jackpease @ empublishing.org.uk (please remove spaces

Top local authority sites:
1: Chiltern
2: Doncaster
3: Ellesmere Port
4: Bristol
5: Brighton

Top 'other' sites
1: Care4Air
2:Bucks Air Quality net
3: Londonair
4: (ex) Aric Encyclopedia
5: Kentair

Direct NO2 emissions fear
The Air Quality Expert Group (Aqeg) has issued a draft report on direct emissions of nitrogen dioxide.
l Trends in primary nitrogen dioxide in the UK draft Air Quality Expert Group report has a deadline for comments on 7 November 2006. The final report is expected to be published in spring 2007. The report can be viewed on Defra’s website link www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/aqeg/index.htm

Three year probe on traffic pollution sensor network
A three-year research project jointly funded by the Department for Transport and EPSRC is to create a network of traffic and pollution sensors that will allow traffic pollution to be reduced by managing vehicle movements in real time.
l website www.pmesg.org.uk

Grants: £2 a day for Harrow
Sheffield has won a whopping £116,000 – and Harrow a measly £600 in Defra’s air quality annual grants (full list here)

Comeap close to report on ozone effects
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (Comeap) is close to completing its report on ozone.
l www.advisorybodies. doh.gov.uk/comeap

Air targets missed
The Environment Agency has released its annual report including an analysis of regulated air emissions.

Gloves off in Teom v Bam war
Two leading monitor suppliers are scrambling to pick up business following Defra’s recent reanalysis of particle monitoring equipment.
l Air Monitors has a produced a Teom v Bam factsheet available for download on www.airmonitors.co.uk/fdms
l Enviro Technology: Mike Webley on 01453 733200 or email mike.webley@et.co.uk

High speed vans pollute more than thought: predictions recast
Vans being driven at higher speeds pollute more than previously thought, a Netcen study for the DfT suggests.

Discount offered on ‘bible’
A discount is being offered on a book that many will see as a ‘bible’ on air quality pollutants.
l UK Air Pollutants digest is available from http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/epages/ eapublications.storefront

Defra submits progress report to Commission
Defra and the devolved regions are consulting on their statutory report to the European Commission on the state of air quality in the UK in 2004.
l Consultation on the UK’s plans and programmes to meet limit values set in the First Air Quality Daughter Directive (1999/30/EC) of the European Parliament and Council (2006 reporting year) website link www.defra.gov. uk/corporate/consult/ air1daughter2006/index.htm

Clearer Future rerun South Yorks
Care4Air grouping is holding its second annual Clearer Future conference on Thursday 21st September.
l www.care4air.org

Two new R&A FAQs
Two new frequently asked questions have been added to the review & assessment helpdesk website
l R&A website FAQS: www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review

Spondon declaration
Derby City Council is extending its air quality management areas to include more of its ring road and an area in Spondon.

CO2 effects outlined
Defra has released a key report used to inform the recent Aqeg probe into pollution and global warming impacts.
l The report can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/ archive/reports/list.php

New ERG site as TfL bolsters monitor network
The Environmental Research Group (ERG) has taken delivery of a new air quality monitoring station.

Methane stats redone
UK methane emission statistics have been recast to reflect latest thinking.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environment

US to study emissions
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has approved over $5 million in funding for researching air pollution, including shipping emissions.
l www.arb.ca.gov

EU looks at costing
An EU study has found that business tends to overestimate the costs of environmental measures, much as has been seen in UK studies. 
l http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/ex_post/costs.pdf

POP consultation
Consultation has started on the shape of the European plan to cut Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
 l http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pops/consult_en.htm

Bristol maps air and noise effects of LEZ
Bristol City Council has embarked on a project to map environmental noise which will examine how the noise climate in the city might be affected by the introduction of a low emissions zone (LEZ) for air quality.
l SILENCE project www.silence-ip.org

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August 2006 headlines (issue 4)

Heathrow: meet or cheat?
The all important Heathrow air quality panels have completed their work – the way is now clear to decide whether a third runway or mixed mode operations are possible without breaching EU air quality objectives. Or whether to apply for a five year derogation to avoid having to meet 2010 limits.

Air people move on
A number of key air quality people are changing. Defra air quality front man Davide Minotti left two months ago and has now been replaced by Sarah Dudgeon.
Meanwhile NSCA policy man Rob Pilling is leaving and Phil Mulligan is joining to take a senior policy role filling the role vacated by Martin Joseph.

Sadler leads European probe to compare clean up options
Sadler Consultants is leading a consortium conducting a research project for the European Commission on how the EU can support the greater use of technical measures, such as after-treatments, fuels, oils and tyres, that can help reduce the emissions from existing heavy duty fleets.
l Lucy Sadler, Sadler Consultants, website www.airqualitypolicy.co.uk.

ERG plots course of heatwave
Warnings from King’s College ERG summarised the effect of the heatwave in July – the hottest since records began.
l www.erg.kcl.ac.uk

NI gets new website
Northern Ireland now has its own dedicated air quality website, joining England and Wales – but leaving Scotland as the odd UK region out in terms of not having a website.
l www.airqualityni.gov.uk

Ozone tracker for Europe
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has launched Ozoneweb which offers users the opportunity to monitor and track ground level ozone incidents on a pan-European scale for the first time.
l  http://eea.europa.eu

News from the NSCA biofuels conference held in Greenwich

‘Commercial disaster’ for Volvo
Don Potts of Volvo said that his firm’s efforts with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) had been a ‘commercial disaster’.

Lessons learned for biogas in Europe
Peter Boison of the European Natural Gas Vehicle Association said that biogas from wastes and crops had the potential for a 50% reduction in fossil fuel CO2 emissions. “It also has less harmful air quality emissions than any other fuel apart from hydrogen produced from renewables.”

Dual fuel trucks are viable with no grant
Gas vehicle converter Hardstaff says that gas trucks have now reached the point where they are viable without the need for a grant.

Go ahead for London LEZ
Following consultation on the shape of the London low emission zone, London mayor Ken Livingstone has confirmed he intends to go ahead in 2008 – one year later than his election pledge of 2007.

Emission based congestion charge
The mayor is also pledging to apply differential charges to the London congestion charge such that the largest engine cars (for example large ‘Chelsea Tractor’ 4x4s) will pay up to £25 while there will be reductions from the current £8 charge for smaller engined vehicles.

Taxi clean up
Meanwhile previously announced plans to clean up taxis are coming into force – this month taxis that were previously pre-Euro and Euro 1 emissions standards, will now have to present themselves for their annual licensing inspection with approved emission reduction equipment.

Congestion charge benefits diluted
Air quality benefits of the congestion charge are less than initially thought, the latest annual congestion charging report suggests.

Screening key to remote testing
TRL has published its full report on local authority roadside emission testing.
l  A review of roadside emission testing by local authorities in the UK is published by TRL, Publications Unit tel 01344 770297

New site for Bristol
Bristol City Council has launched a new website with detailed air quality monitoring available to the public. It was launched alongside a new monitoring site.
l  Website can be viewed at www.bristol.airqualitydata.com

ET trials remote tests in London and Glasgow
Enviro Technology is launching a bespoke roadside testing service following success of trials in London and Glasgow
l  Enviro Technology Stephen Hoskin 01453 733200 .


Dry cleaning reminder
Defra is reminding all dry cleaners who don’t yet have a permit to operate that there are less than four months to go to the 31 October deadline when applications must reach local councils.
l  Defra guidance on dry cleaning can be downloaded at www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/ppc

Sussex gets the text
Sussex has followed Croydon by using texts to warn residents of high pollution levels.
l   website www.sussex-air.net.

Indicator ‘improves’
Defra has released its annual ‘traffic light’ air quality indicator and once again claims air quality is improving.
l  Sustainable development indicators in your pocket is available at www.sustainable-development.gov.uk.

Buncefield update
The Health Protection Agency has released a glossy report focusing on the public health impact of the Buncefield fire.
l  The public health impact of the Buncefield oil depot fire can be viewed on www.hpa.org.uk/publications/2006/buncefield/default.htm

Rugby reprise
Protesters are seeking leave to appeal against a decision that the Rugby Cement permit was legitimate.

Off road emissions
The DfT is consulting on changes to standards for non road engine emissions.
l   NRMM emissions final RIA can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk

Waste burning guidance
A third edition of the Guidance on directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste has been published.
l  AQ14 (06) – Publication of the 3rd edition of WID guidance can be viewed at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/wasteincin/index.htm

Holliday award
Colourant producer Holliday Pigments has won a Chemical Industries Association sustainable development award following its £20m investment on in flue gas desulphurisation plants at its Hull and Comines’ (North France) sites leading to a large reduction in SO2 emissions.

Ships to plug in
The European Commission has adopted the recommendation on the promotion of shore-side electricity for use by ships at berth in EU ports in a bid to cut emissions.
l  http://ec.europa.eu/environ ment/air/transport.htm

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July 2006 headlines (issue 3) 

Monitor shake up imminent
Failure of the Teom particle monitor to conform to EU equivalence standards will lead to a huge shake up of monitoring in the UK.
l The intercomparison report is available on the reports area of www.airquality.co.uk and on www.laqmsupport.org.uk

Cement protesters lose appeal against Rugby plant – Agency fails to rescind criticism
Both cement protesters and the Environment Agency lost in a high court appeal.

Ships prompt AQMA Dover council may have to declare an area of the port based on hourly nitrogen dioxide exceedences.

2006 heading for another 2003?
2006 looks set to be heading towards another 2003 in terms of pollution and heat.

Three declare on NO2 Three local authorities have declared air quality management areas recently.
Carlisle has declared an air quality management area for annual mean NO2 for part of Currock Street, a heavily trafficked road with narrow pavements and housing close to the kerbside.  Meanwhile Guy Sharp of Bournemouth said his authority was declaring areas with busy traffic: and Chichester has also declared.

Waste incinerator for Belvedere
The waste incineration debate is set to ignite once again with news that the DTI has authorised a large waste incinerator in Belvedere, south east London.

EU ozone continues to breach limits
A report suggests that ozone levels across Europe breach objective limits.

Clean transport grant cut leaves EIC fuming
Government abolition of four clean transport grant schemes has angered the Environmental Industries Commission.

UK strategy thoughts aired
Defra last month held a meeting to gather feedback on the recently released UK air quality strategy consultation

Strategy criticised
One criticism of the strategy is its shift from local authority ownership towards national policy measures..

European air directive pushed and pulled
European legislators are changing Commission plans for a new all embracing air quality directive. There will be a tightening of targets – but more flexibility as to when they are met.

The Netcen air quality forecasting meeting focused on Buncefield

Buncefield response analysed
The annual air quality forecasting meeting run by Netcen devoted a whole day to discussing the air quality impacts of the Buncefield fire.

AQ response delayed by bad communication
Air quality professionals appear to have responded to the Buncefield fire in an ad hoc, rather than organised manner, it emerged at the conference.

ERG insists peaks are due to Buncefield
Kings College ERG’s Gary Fuller said that it had now carried out modelling of air quality during the Buncefield incident. He said the modelling backed up the theory that monitored particle peaks were caused by the Buncefield fire.

Revamp for modelling and emissions desk
The Local Authority Air Quality Support Helpdesk has a new website aimed at providing monitoring, modelling and emissions advice to local authorities.
l www.laqmsupport.org.uk

Agency cautions on red tape review
The Environment Agency is adding its voice to fears that the ongoing red tape review might worsen environmental regulation.

News from the Investigation of air pollution standing conference (iapsc) meeting held in London

Croydon expands text warnings
The London Borough of Croydon has expanded its Airtext scheme to include automated landline telephone messages.

... and tackles bus idling
Simmonds reported on Croydon’s experience with using anti-idling powers.

Care4Air delivers
Mark Daly of Sheffield City Council updated Iapsc delegates on how the South Yorkshire Care4

Dutch limits raised
Some speed limits in Holland have been increased from 50mph to 60mph as emissions had been found to increase. Drivers were going too slowly to avoid getting a speeding ticket, says ecodriving expert Martin Kroon speaking at Iapsc.

Carslaw calls for nitrogen dioxide inventory
Direct emissions of NO2 will worsen the ability of the UK to meet hourly as well as annual mean objectives, says David Carslaw of Leeds University.

‘Doom and gloom’ follows tunnel studies
TRL’s Ian McCrae told the Iapsc conference about the ‘doom and gloom’ surrounding increases in emissions of primary nitrogen dioxide: “The actual mass of NO2 is increasing with very high emissions from the latest Euro 4 vehicles – albeit with lower total NOX emissions.”

Jack Pease reports from the Antwerp AAMG particles conference

Dixon reveals Teom failings
Defra’s top air quality scientist Janet Dixon unveiled to the AAMG particle conference in Antwerp new research that shows that Teom particle monitors have failed to meet European standards for particle measurement. Dixon was introducing the research that was concurrently released by Defra on its website.

Commission ceases to listen to experts
Café steering group head Peter Bruckmann says that the European Commission is no longer taking advice on air quality policies as it used to in the past.

Gravimetric method flawed in any case as recommended filters prove inconsistent
European persistence in requiring use of the gravimetric system of measuring particles is flawed, say Belgian researchers.

Euro standard-setting frustrates delegates
There was barely concealed anger on standard setting at the European conference on particles held last month by the AAMG in Antwerp.

Gamekeeper turned poacher?
Don Munns is former chairman of CEN and his words were hardly reassuring in terms of standards setting.

Kelly: diet and PM
Kings College ERG’s Frank Kelly updated the Antwerp particle conference about health effects of particles. He reiterated the benefits of a good diet in mitigating ill health effects of pollution.

The conference was run by the AAMG, part of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Contact Gail Rafferty, AAMG-RSC Administration email conference@aamg-rsc.org

Air included in quality bus partnerships
Guidance has been issued by the DfT on how quality bus partnerships can work. Local authorities can use partnerships to include conditions on bus contracts to clean up emissions.
l www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/page/dft_localtrans_611921.hcsp

Consultation on EIAs
Consultation is taking place on amendments to environmental impact assessment circular and guidelines.
l Amended Circular on Environmental Impact Assessment: A consultation paper can be viewed on www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1500995

Infant deaths caused by PM2.5
Californian researchers say that fine particle (PM2.5) pollution is killing young infants.

Asthma incidence link to traffic?
Despite accepted wisdom that asthma incidence is not linked to pollution, Los Angeles researchers think they may have found a link.

Low levels of NO2 in death link
Nitrogen dioxide is blamed for causing increased deaths in European cities.

Below-objective pollution affects kids’ lungs
Air pollution at levels less than European limits affects the lung capacity of children, Austrian researchers suggest.

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June 2006 headlines (issue 2)

Buncefield: no significant air quality impacts, claims report
A new Defra report says there were no significant air quality impacts resulting from the explosion last December at the Buncefield oil depot in Hertfordshire.

Defra-commissioned report shows that official modelling underestimates future concentrations
Defra’s preferred means of predicting future nitrogen dioxide concentrations seriously underestimates exposures, according to a new modelling study.
l Modelling of current and future concentrations of PM, NOX and ozone London using ADMS-Urban (draft report) can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

No winter gas relief
The Environment Agency is warning that gas supplies will be tight next year and given the advance notice – emergency permit waivers are unlikely.
l www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/444217/444663/298441/1248174/?version=1&lang=_e

Zoom in and fly over London air quality

London academics, with the support of the BOC Foundation, have produced a web-based interactive air quality map.
l  www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/boc.asp

Boilers could breach NO2 limits
Gas heating boilers could breach objective limits, an AEA Technology report suggests.
l Review of the Clean Air Act provisions for dispersion from small gas boilers can be viewed on the reports section of www.air quality.co.uk

London venue for roadside testing demo
Enviro Technology is holding a demonstration of its remote roadside vehicle testing equipment in London next week.
l www.et.co.uk

Lobby to fight red tape cuts
Environmental interests have set up a lobby group to counteract pressure on the government to cut environmental regulation.

... as EIC objects to Part B dilution
The Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) has criticised plans to remove some Part B permitting activities from the local authority pollution control regime.
l www.eic-uk.co.uk

Glasgow continues roadside testing
Glasgow is continuing its campaign of roadside emissions testing in 2006/07 with the help of a £260,000 grant from the Scottish Executive.

New guidelines aimed to help dispersion modellers ...
New guidelines have been agreed to help dispersion modelling of short term releases.
l Guidelines for the preparation of dispersion modelling assessments for compliance with regulatory requirements – an update to the 1995 Royal Meteorological Society guidance can be viewed on http://admlc.org.uk/ model_guidelines/index.htm

...as planning guidance nears completion
NSCA is in the closing stages of updating its planning and development control guidance.

Russian fires and Danish pollen affect UK air quality
Defra had to rush out an air quality alert due to seasonal agricultural fires across Russia which were thought to be responsible for an increase in the levels of particles (PM10) which have been recorded at sites in Scotland and the North of England early in May. May usually sees ozone alerts.

Teom, FDMS and Bam compared
US researchers have compared the benefits of new style Teoms against older Teoms and Bams.

Genetic defects linked to poor air quality
New York researchers say that poor air quality can cause genetic abnormalities.
l More details: www.columbia.edu/cu/news/05/02/pollution_pregnancy.html

Air quality blamed for end to brickmaking
Air quality permit requirements are being blamed for closure of a brickworks in Bedfordshire.

Rise in vehicle weight threatens pollution and global warming
A leading air quality expert has warned that the trend for increasing vehicle weight is likely to affect ground level pollution as well as carbon dioxide emissions.

More bad news for cleaner transport grant schemes as Government opts for education
NSCA expressed its disappointment at transport minister Stephen Ladyman’s plans to scrap four clean transport grant programmes.

Hybrid savings prove elusive
A US energy research firm says hybrids use up more energy on a life cycle basis than conventional vehicles.

Ricardo delivers diesel hybrid V
ehicle research firms Ricardo and Qinetiq have worked with Peugeot Citroen to create a diesel electric hybrid vehicle.

Pigs on notice
Pig and poultry farmers are being targeted by the Environment Agency to remind them they will shortly be covered by Pollution Prevention Control (PPC) requirements.

Grimm push
Environmental monitoring firm Quantitech has increased its stock of Grimm particle monitors available for loan.
l Chris Tyrrell 01908 22 77 22 or by email ct@quantitech.co.uk

Green red buses
39 British-built Alexander Dennis double-decker buses are being delivered to London General bus company creating the first UK fleet that meets higher Euro 4 standards of emissions.

Emissions derogation
DfT is consulting on regulations intended to pave the way for new, cleaner commercial vehicles.
l Consultation on a proposal to amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986) to introduce revised emission requirements www.dft.gov.uk

Defra tinkers with IPPC regs
Defra is consulting on sundry technical changes to integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) regulations.
l Further details on http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ppc-amendregs-2006/index.htm

Heathrow move
The Town and Country Planning Association says that Heathrow should moved to an artificial island to free land, and reduce air and noise pollution in West London.
l website www.tcpa.org.uk

AQ v CC
The European Environment Agency has produced a briefing on air quality and climate change policy interactions.
l Air quality and ancillary benefits of climate change policies, www.eea.europa. eu/main_html

Cross Channel schools on ozone watch
Ten schools across Sussex (and 10 in France) are examining the effects of ozone pollution on sensitive nicotiana plants.
l Phil Gervat 01273 878785

Manchester College wins aero-funding
Manchester Metropolitan University is to lead a £5m international aviation project MMU is leading Project Omega to assess known and newly-emerging environmental challenges that the air transport and aeronautical industries must overcome during the next 50 years.
l www.mmu.ac.uk/interna tional/news/news_item.php ?id=432

Emissions update
DfT is consulting on an update to the booklet, In-service exhaust emission standards for road vehicles.
l Consultation with motor vehicle stakeholders annual update of emissions standards for MOT testing can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/divisionhomepage/611654.hcsp

NSCA promotes biogas
NSCA is organising a conference on biogas on 11th July in Greenwich, east London.
l Contact Sally May, NSCA, 01273 878770

Review for biofuels
 Three years following introduction of the biofuels directive, the European Commission is reviewing its progress.
l http://europa.eu.int/ energy/res/legislation/ biofuels_en.htm

Glasgow road panned
Friends of the Earth Scotland welcomed the publication of a letter, signed by over 20 health experts and local GPs, calling for Britain’s biggest motorway project – the Glasgow M74 motorway – to be scrapped.

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May 2006 headlines

Cleaner vehicles threaten widespread NO2 objective failure
An apparently minor and change to the amount of nitrogen dioxide emitted from vehicles may jeopardise achievements of air quality objectives across the UK.

ODPM becomes DCLG
David Miliband has been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs replacing Margaret Beckett.
Meanwhile the ODPM ‘superministry’ is to be shaken up with the brief taken off Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The new Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will come under Ruth Kelly’s leadership

Buncefield latest
As AQB went to press, a report into the Buncefield plume was released suggesting there were no lasting public health impacts.

News from the nsca Spring workshop held in Didcot last month