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December 2011 issue 68

Epuk. End of an era
Environmental Protection UK is to close. All staff are to be made redundant from the Brighton based organisation, the UK’s oldest environmental charity (113 years old).

Healthy Air Campaign to carry on?
There are strong signs that the Healthy Air Campaign – promoted by Epuk – will survive the failure of its main parent.

Councils to share £2m grant (since increased to £3m)
Air quality grant for 2011 has finally been announced. Councils share £2m which is slightly less than in previous years – but some had feared the grant would be scrapped altogether (AQB May p1).
Full table ranked by value    alphabetically

MPs see little progress
MPs have revisited air quality policy in a bid to see if the Government took its advice. It hasn’t, finds Jack Pease

NOx coatings. Do they work?
A glitzy event in London was used to trumpet the benefits of NOx eating coatings. Do they work?

Adverse impact on AQMA ignored
A planning appeal for a community health and sports centre has focussed on significance definitions contained in Epuk’s development guidelines for air quality.

Turbine interference
Air quality has been cited as a reason not to install wind turbines at Frodsham, near Runcorn.

Smog alerts proliferate
Recent still, calm conditions have prompted a string of air quality alerts.

Ozone and PM remain a problem
The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports that many EU countries are expected to exceed the emissions ceilings in 2010 for at least one pollutant. Concentrations of ground-level ozone and particulate matter have remained stable over recent years despite efforts to improve air quality.

Solvent release leads to £40,000 penalty
A Midlands firm has been fined £40,000 for too much odour.

Market falls 8.4% in 2010
A yearly survey of environmental consulting has shown a continued fall.

Scotland gains emergency capability
Air quality and health impacts of fires and other unforeseen events can now be monitored in Scotland. An emergency team is in place and was immediately put to work following release of hydrogen sulphide from spilled oil ballast water in the Firth of Forth.

Filter warning from Air Monitors
Non-standard filters could be behind the long running saga of why some Teom-FDMS instruments have been misbehaving.

UK reports exceedences to Europe
The UK has formally reported exceedences of air quality directives across its 43 zones in 2010.

Herts switch
Geoff Broughton’s Air Quality Data Management (AQDM) and Envitech Europe has won the contract to run the Herts & Beds air quality network, formerly run by ERG. Broughton, formerly with AEA, claims this means his firm is now equal with Casella and behind King’s College and AEA in terms of running networks.

Retrofit plea
Retrofitting firm Greenurban says the Environmental Audit Committee’s report into air quality shows how important it is for the transport industry to clean up its act.

PhD sponsorship
Air Monitors is sponsoring a PhD student at Kings College for the next four years. The work will be focussed on black carbon.

Localism now an Act
The Localism Act has been passed.

Black carbon monitor
Air quality monitoring specialist Enviro Technology is now supplying the PAX (Photoacoustic Extinctiometer) System for carbon particle sensing.

£3,000 odour fine
The Foyle Food Group Ltd (FFG) was fined £3,000 plus costs at Londonderry Magistrates’ court for breaching odour conditions of its Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Permit.

Gardiner in
Enviro Technology has appointed Alan Gardiner as regional manager in Scotland.

Sniffer reveals habitat protection tool ...
Sniffer – the Scottish and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research – has proposed an improved tool for assessing habitat sensitivity to air pollution.

.. and tracking method
Sniffer has also finished a project that aims to set up a methodology and set of indicators to identify and summarise the impacts of air pollutants on ecosystems.

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November 2011 issue 67

Royal Haskoning is recruiting (click here) and Aqeg is looking for members (here)

Do not ignore 2010 NO2 blip
Cardiff City Council has been forced into 11 detailed assessments this year because of a widespread pollution spike in 2010. It had hoped to wait and see whether 2010 was a freak year for high pollution.

Court case prompts U-turn on consultation
The Government is now consulting on PM10 plans having initially refused to do so.

Grant out
As AQB went to press, Defra air quality grants were announced. More details next month.

Speed limit helps
A speed limit being put on a motorway in Wales may be enough to allow compliance with EU NO2 objectives.

Birkett steps indoors
Simon Birkett’s Clean Air in London campaign has gained a key sponsor – and is to stretch its remit to include indoor air.

WHO tots up global air quality cost
The World Health Organisation says over two million people die each year from indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Welch move to PBA completes swap-around
Denise Welch has joined Peter Brett Associates as a principal consultant in its air quality team, operating from the Bristol office.

IAQM critical of NO2 plans
The Institute of Air Quality Management is critical of plans to meet NO2 objectives, its response released last month reveals.

CIEH voices fears over planning changes
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health says that short sighted planning changes are putting public health at risk (AQB August p4).

Fairmode: technical guide
The European Fairmode grouping has released a technical guide to the use of air quality modelling for EU directive purposes.

CMAQ update
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new version of its Community Multi-scale Air Quality model (CMAQ) for use on a more local scale.

Autumn ozone unusual
Unseasonably warm and sunny weather brought about unusually elevated levels of ozone, PM10 and nitrogen dioxide across London and the south east from 29th September to 3rd October, reports ERG.

ERG goes Android and Chrome
A new version of the LondonAir mobile app is available now as a free download from the Android Marketplace. It has previously proved popular for the Iphone.

Chatham pong
Wood chips are causing bad smells near Chatham Docks.

Shape of LAQM review outed
Defra is launching a £30,000 research project to support a rushed review of action planning and LAQM.

Mills: back to black
Jim Mills of Air Monitors – perhaps the person most associated with particle monitoring in the UK – is advocating a move to black carbon.

Epuk goes black
Epuk is soon to launch a national black carbon campaign.

Enviro launches fast tube samplers
Enviro Technology has launched a new range of rapid diffusion samplers.

Railways in court
US groups are taking railroad firms to court for excess diesel pollution.

Iapsc date
Iapsc’s December 6th conference will focus on NO2 limits, local authority case studies on traffic emissions and greener options for heavy duty vehicles. l www.iapsc.org.uk

Temple again
Rapidly-growing consultant Temple has announced a further appointment.

Monitoring rate falls
There has been a slight fall in monitoring network capture rates.

Regional SEAs
The Government has carried out environmental assessments of its plans to abolish regional plans.

Big Aecom win
Consultant Aecom has been awarded an air quality monitoring, carbon management, and regulatory development project in Kuwait.

Heathrow quizzed on air efforts
With London airports talking about expansion again, the issue of air pollution is becoming news again. The London assembly quizzed experts.

City of London tackles air
The City of London has launched its CityAir-branded campaign to get businesses involved in helping air quality.

Low emissions guide
The Low Emission Strategies (LES) Partnership is consulting on draft guidance aimed to provide practical advice and best practice examples in the use of procurement to reduce road transport emissions in the public sector.

Nanomaterial defined
The European Commission has agreed a common definition for a nanomaterial. The lack of an agreed definition was hampering efforts to control releases of nanoparticles into the environment.

Low sulphur cuts shipping emissions
A US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study says that air pollution plummets if ships use low sulphur fuels.

Shipping speeds
European NGO T&E has proposed use of speed limits for ships to cut emissions.

LAPC fees freeze
Despite rising staff and material costs, Defra is proposing to freeze LAPC charges.

Progress discussed
Despite it being ten years since the air quality daughter directives were introduced, pollution concentrations are not falling as fast as expected.

Carbon collaboration
Consultant Mouchel has teamed up with Bournemouth Borough Council and launched a new Carbon Management Centre of Excellence (CMCoE).

Wigan Win
Wigan Council and the LES Partnership have been given initial approval for award funding from Defra to assess the air quality and health benefits arising from emission reductions achieved through local transport measures.

Renewables shift
Subsidies for renewable energy have been recast in a new Decc consultation.

Bull to AEA
Sarah Bull, formerly with the HPA, has joined AEA as senior environmental consultant in toxicology.

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October 2011 issue 66

No extension for NO2
The Government has surprised air quality campaigners by announcing it will not seek an extension to the EU Directive for nitrogen dioxide.

Fines weakened
The Local Government Group has secured changes to the Localism Bill that will make it harder for Government to pass on EU fines to local authorities.

London sinks in European soot league
London has fared badly in a ‘soot’ ranking intended to reflect efforts to improve air quality.

Odour appeal dismisses cordon
A planning appeal for new flats has centred on separation zones – cordon sanitaires – near smelly sewage works.

Cyclists have poor understanding of pollution
A survey of cyclists in London suggests air quality is not a major issue for them, especially compared to issues such as safety.

Henley goes
Defra air quality minister Lord Henley has been replaced by Lord Taylor (of Holbeach). Henley has gone to the Home Office.

Mcerts morphs into new show
The biennial Mcerts conference and exhibition is being rebadged and broadened out from its traditional stack monitoring roots.
l www.aqeshow.com

UWE wins key EU contract
The Air Quality Management Resource Centre at UWE has won a high profile contract to support a team carrying out the revision of EU air quality directives.

Temple growth
Rapidly-expanding Temple Group has appointed Chris Fry as operations director.

Southampton windfall from SupportingU
Southampton City Council was the winner of monitor firm SupportingU’s competition to win a free monitor cabinet, called the Kaizen.

Ports to pay for failing to warn population
A Los Angeles court has ruled against the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles over diesel truck emissions. The ports failed to sufficiently warn local populations of the adverse health effects of diesel exhaust.

Olympic plans challenged
Clean Air in London campaigner Simon Birkett has rounded on plans to create priority road space for the Olympics. He believes plans are illegal and vulnerable to Judicial Review.

London van drivers reminded
Transport for London (TfL) is urging the owners and operators of the estimated 150,000 vehicles affected by new emissions standards in January 2012 to take action to avoid fines.

World environmental health day recognised
To mark World Environmental Health Day 2011, the City of London Corporation hosted an ‘air quality’ themed reception at the Guildhall designed to support London’s air pollution strategies.

Awards open
Applications are now being taken for the Sustainable City Awards.
l Further details: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/sca

HyBoost revealed
Research firm Ricardo is leading a consortium that is developing an alternative form of hybrid car.

Ireland clean?
2010 data suggests that Irish air quality is amongst the best in Europe.

Responses revealed for NO2
42 organisations and individuals have responded to the Government’s proposed plan to meet European directive NO2 requirements.

Edgware Road gets ‘green’ wall
The London Mayor is stepping up use of vegetation to improve air quality as part of his “assault” on air pollution. He has now announced a new green wall at Edgware Road tube station (CGI, pictured).

Tube slip
Last month’s story on diffusion tube consistency misunderstood the role of WASP in an intercomparison exercise (AQB September p1).

Guernsey bonfires
Guernsey authorities are considering laws on what can be burnt on bonfires to improve air quality.

Burford joins SLR
SLR Consulting has appointed Euan Burford (pictured, above) as a senior consultant in its air quality team in the firm’s Cardiff office.

Permitting update
Core guidance for environmental permitting has been updated to include a number of small changes.

Dearnley departs
The recession has pushed Environmental Protection UK into a further reshuffle.

CIEH changes too
CIEH is also making changes.

Smoak of London dissipated?
Epuk has republished an eerie medieval snapshot of pollution in London. Has anything changed?
l Fumifugium can be downloaded from www.environmental-protection.org.uk

Key court case gets go ahead
Protesters have been given leave to seek a Judicial Review on the Government’s air quality plans. AQB looks at the detail of the claim

Million trees for New York
Researchers report on the air quality benefits of planting a million trees in New York City.

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September 2011 issue 65

Air thwarts Sainsburys again
Sainsburys is licking its wounds having once again lost a planning battle on air quality grounds. Unreliable emission factors were at the centre of arguments.

TfL: Dust suppressant works
A report says that dust suppressants used to ‘glue’ particles to the road surface is worthwhile.

Planters in place as London action grows
TfL has declared its dust suppressant trial a success (see news, p3) and is to expand it. Meanwhile taxi marshalls have started work as part of the London clean air fund to reduce emissions paid for with a £5m grant from the DfT (AQB June p1). A ‘green wall’ is also being installed.

Tube scheme fails to improve consistency
A scheme intended to improve consistency of diffusion tube analysis appears to have failed, a new report suggests (more here)

Odours OK on industrial estate
A firm has lost an appeal against its ‘odourous’ neighbour.

Conditions allow for bedsit Indian cooking
A bedsit can be used as a commercial kitchen preparing Indian food, an appeal inspector has ruled.

PAH still high
PAH’s remain above objective levels in several areas, an NPL report suggests.

Tyre fire probe
Residents living near to the site of the Fforestfach tyre fire in Wales are to be surveyed on the effect that the incident had on their health and well-being.

HGV response
DfT has summarised responses to a call for bus and truck operators to comment on air quality measures for heavy goods vehicles.

Clean guidance
Guidance has been suggested by the DfT on specifying clean and energy efficient road vehicles.

SCR trial
London Buses has nominated suppliers for the NOx pilot to improve air quality

Website review
Chiltern and ERG win our annual website air quality review

Tube scheme
A scheme intended to improve consistency of diffusion tube analysis appears to have failed, a new report suggests.
Over three years ago a harmonised method was launched to improve perceived inconsistencies in diffusion tube analysis.
There has historically been concern over inter-laboratory variation in tube performance as a result of variations in tube preparation and analysis. AEA’s latest report reviews the effectiveness of the harmonisation, based upon data from existing QA/QC schemes: Conclusions include:
l Inter-laboratory agreement has improved slightly but the improvement appears to be gradual, rather than specifically linked with the timing of the harmonisation;
l The average quarterly Performance Index score did not appear to show any improvement which could be directly attributed to the harmonisation;
l While the four worst laboratories appeared to improve performance after harmonisation, five laboratories showed slightly worse performance.
AEA’s latest report reviews a the effectiveness of the harmonisation, based on a “before and after” study. This used data from existing QA/QC schemes (the independent WASP scheme operated by HSL (AQB January p3 2008) , and the Defra field intercomparison). AEA added that the long-term “rolling performance index” does indicate that laboratory performance has improved over the past three years. The problem is, there was no clear “step change” at the time harmonisation was implemented. 
l Investigation of the effects of harmonising diffusion tube methodology
http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library

August 2011 issue 64

UK Government faces High Court test
After years of threats, the UK will now have to defend its air quality record in the High Court.

UK PM10 extension is rubber stamped by Brussels
The EU has rubber stamped the UK’s request for an extension to the PM10 objective.

Campaigning steps up a gear
Air quality campaigning just became less polite and reverential!

Protesters stage ‘die in’
Air quality has become the subject of direct action in recent weeks.

More power worsens diesel NOx
Increasing power of diesel engines could be behind the failure of NOX and NO2 to fall as expected.

Planning framework set out
The Government has published its draft national planning policy framework. This will be the short policy statement that will replace thousands of pages of detailed guidance. It has already been criticised for giving insufficient weight to environmental issues.

London demands neutrality
The Mayor has published the replacement of the spatial development strategy for London – the London Plan.

Port Talbot particle monitor found to be unreliable
Difficulties with particle monitoring at Port Talbot has led to the need to estimate 2010 data.

Landfill once again given official all-clear
Well managed landfill sites do not pose a significant risk to public health, claims the Health Protection Agency.

Defra set to go ‘open source’ for future modelling needs
A report into air quality modelling commissioned by Defra has recommended a move towards open source techniques.

Guidance on guidance for LAQM
Defra has released a report on action planning guidance. It concludes that there is a lot of it, and local authorities need some help to find it.

Brighton plan tackles rising NO2
Brighton & Hove City Council has released its second action plan claiming it will get tough on air quality given NO2 levels appear to be rising

Defra told how LEZs might work
Amec – formerly Entec – has reported to Defra on the possible shape of a certification scheme for nationwide low emission zones.

Winners announced for sustainable transport
Winning bidders have been announced in the first round of the sustainable transport fund – the successor funding regime to Local Transport Plans. There is £155.5m to support authorities in delivering local economic growth whilst cutting carbon emissions from transport.

Islington trials environment warnings
London Airtext is carrying out a two month trial with the London Borough of Islington to issue air quality alerts.

Further sulphur cut from coastal shipping
Sulphur dioxide emissions from ships are to be cut in sensitive European waters.

Green groups criticise green rating
Environmental pressure groups have critcised a decision to award a Porsche SUV a ‘green rating’ under new German labelling scheme

MPs revisit air quality
MPs hauled in air quality experts, ministers and Defra officials to see whether things have improved. Last time they said we should be ashamed of our record

Biomass bungs
The Government has revealed the grant structure for domestic renewable energy installations.

Scotland reviews
SEA implementation Scotland has carried out a full review of implementation of the original European Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive.

New two
Suzanne Hodgson has joined Air Quality Consultants as a senior consultant, with Flo Kirk-Lloyd joining as an assistant consultant.

Cutting truck pollution
DfT and the Freight Transport Association have worked with the Noise Abatement Society to look at ways of allowing HGV vehicles to make quiet out-of-hours deliveries.

MEP does the rounds
Green Euro MP Keith Taylor is touring south east England towns highlighting the dangers of poor air quality.

EU emissions down
Emissions across the EU appear to have gone down – partly due to the recession, suggests the European Environment Agency.

Six months to go
With less than six months to go before the toughening of the low emission zone, Transport for London (TfL) is calling on the owners and operators of vehicles set to be affected when new emissions standards come in to effect in January 2012 to take action now and avoid fines.

Conference issue
This December’s AAMG Royal Society of Chemistry conference will address air quality questions relevant to the review of the Air Quality Directive in 2013.

Kent planning
Kent councils have joined together to produce best practice guidance for dealing with air quality impacts of planning developments. l www.kentair.org.uk Sinfin succeeds An appeal against a refusal for a waste recovery facility has succeeded meaning the incinerator should now go ahead.

Nudge is not enough
‘Nudging’ on its own is unlikely to be successful in changing the population’s behaviour, says a Lords Science and Technology Committee’s report.

Rushlight again
Rushlight environmental awards are once again open for entries.

Reporting improved
The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports that environmental reporting is improving.

Air COST
The DfT has added a new tool to its suite of guidance for assessing transport infrastructure. Air is included in the new Early Assessment and Sifting Tool (EAST) published on the DfT transport business case website.

Data is in
Harrison off Lacors air quality and noise specialist Cassie Harrison has moved roles following a shake up.

Public health plans
The Government has updated its thoughts on how public health will be transferred to local authorities.

Ozone still bad across Europe
Air quality across Europe remains poor despite efforts to reduce emissions.

King’s expands modelling capability
Kings College London ERG has expanded its modelling capability beyond London.

Sales boost defies recession
Enviro Technology claims it has had a record second quarter sales period despite the recession.

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July 2011 issue 63

Local LEZs to solve national NO2
Defra and the devolved regions have revealed how they intend to reduce NO2 and obtain a five year extension to EU limit values.

EHO’s brainless jobsworths, court hears
An LAPC permitting appeal has cited evidence claiming that environmental health officers are “brainless jobsworths”.

EU AQ reviewed
The European Commission has outlined the shape of its review of air quality directives. The review will draw in directives on air quality policy, fuel quality, vehicle emissions and industrial emissions.

More warnings with new index
The air quality index may be tightened so that more warnings are given to the public.

Advice to index users
Comeap noted that local council and air quality websites often only report a band (e.g. low, moderate, high or very high) rather than using the ten-point scale.

OBE for Ayres
Comeap chairman Jon Ayres has received an OBE for services to science. He is currently professor of respiratory and environmental medicine at Birmingham University.

News from investigation of air pollution standing conference held in Sheffield

NO2 and PM10 done, now LAQM
Defra air quality boss Robert Vaughan had plenty to tell Iapsc delegates.

Cambridge bus initiative prompts drop
Cambridge City Council’s Jo Dicks told the Iapsc conference in Sheffield that there has been some success with the city’s fight to cut bus emissions by half.

2010 bad year for NO2?
Cambridge City Council showed results of NO2 annual mean tube results which showed a startling rise in NO2 emissions in 2010.

Freight savings
Freight consolidation centres can offer useful emission savings, Donald Chalker of Transport Travel Research told the Sheffield Iapsc conference.

London submits revised plan
The UK Government, working with the London Mayor, has submitted an updated seven-page plan for London to the European Commission. The submission was required as part of the conditional approval for an extension to PM10 objectives (AQB April p1).

LEZ not cost effective for inner London
TfL has told the London Assembly’s Environment Committee that an inner London low emission zone with a Euro IV cut off would not be effective.

Detailed modelling carried out on zone
With TfL suggesting a tighter low emission zone in central London suggesting won’t be value for money (see above), the City of London has commissioned its own research on the benefits.

No effect from congestion charge removal
Transport for London (TfL) says early results suggest the removal of the western extension to the London congestion zone has not increased air pollution.

Energy plans set for approval
National Policy Statements (NPSs) for energy – which include biomass – have been put before Parliament.

Planning framework revealed
The possible shape of the future slimline planning system have been included in the new environment White Paper..

Green White paper
A new natural environment white paper has been released.

Wording of planning presumption mooted
Local authorities will be encouraged to update their local plans to include specific policies on air quality and other environmental impacts following publication of the proposed ‘planning presumption’ wording.

LEZs centrepiece of NO2 plans
Government will rely on local authorities to introduce low emission zones to cut emissions. We study new NO2 plans

News from the Spring annual UK air pollution research meeting held in Cranfield

Walton costs NO2 benefits
Heather Walton, formerly of the HPA and now with King’s College London, has costed the benefits of reducing nitrogen dioxide.

Threshold sought for ozone effects
St George’s London researchers have tried to find out whether or not there is a threshold for ozone health effects.

Pollution causes asthma
Cranfield delegates heard what is claimed to be the first meta analysis that shows that air pollution causes asthma, not just worsens it.

MPs told about air
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is now considering evidence submitted to its follow-on inquiry into air quality.

LGA on fines
The Local Government Association is seeking a number of amendments to the Localism Bill.

SEPA shake up
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) says that its consultation on changes to regulation has received broad support.

Costing consultation
DfT is consulting on the process of costing air quality changes resulting from major schemes.

Indicator down
Final results for the air quality indicator have revised figures down, ie the air is even cleaner than provisional figures suggested.

Esposito exits
Camden’s Gloria Esposito is leaving to join the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership.

Edinburgh on odour
Edinburgh Council has introduced a monitoring regime to respond to odour complaints about Scottish Water’s £24 million investment in Seafield waste treatment plant.

Edinburgh Ecostars
Edinburgh is adopting the Ecostars fleet management scheme pioneered by South Yorkshire authorities.

REC gain
Jethro Redmore has recently been appointed as manager of REC’s air quality impact assessment group, based in the Manchester office.

Health costed
A European study has tried to emphasise the environmental benefits of improving air quantity.

IES offer
The Institution of Environmental Sciences has published a special edition of its journal on air quality and health. AQB readers can buy the journal for £5, says the IES. Website: www.ies-uk.org.uk

Speed limits cut pollution
Short term speed limits could yield useful exposure reductions, Belgian researchers suggest.

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June 2011 issue 62

Eco marshals for London?
London Mayor Boris Johnson has been challenged to provide details of what additional measures will result from the £5m clean air funding made available by central Government to improve air quality (AQB May p1). Eco marshals may be introduced to reduce idling.

DfT revamps cost benefit analysis
The DfT has added a new tool to its suite of guidance for assessing transport infrastructure.

Others in court
The European Commission is to take France and Belgium to Court and and warned Romania over failure to comply with EU air quality rules on PM10.

Air pollution detectives on the beat
Scottish Government, in partnership with Glow, Scotland’s online education community and AEA, has launched an air pollution website aimed at children.

Mayor rules out early inner London LEZ
The Mayor has been pressed on whether he would consider banning pre-Euro 4 diesel vehicles) from inner London through a Clean Air Zone during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

London Mayor liable for non-action?
A supplier of taxi clean-up equipment has questioned whether the London Mayor is fulfilling his legal duties for reducing emissions.

London monitoring network reviewed
Air Quality Consultants has recently completed a review of the London automatic air quality monitoring network for the GLA.

Sweeping improvement
Internal TfL documents suggest that use of dust suppressants on polluted roads could have cu

MPs revisit air quality
MPs are revisiting air quality in a new inquiry.

HEI confirms little effect from London charge
A review by the influential US Health Effects Institute has cast doubt whether there is any meaningful reduction in air pollution as a result of the London congestion charge.

Costings assigned to impacts
Defra has endorsed a study that assigns costs to air quality and other environmental issues. The costs are likely to feed into the Government natural environment white paper due to be published next week.

Volcano has limited impact on air quality
The recent Grimsvotn volcanic eruption led to ash clouds centred on Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Biomass affects black carbon concentrations
Defra has been quizzed in Parliament on the impacts of support for biomass on black carbon emissions.

Texting benefits to be tested
A new study will look at how improved public information might reduce the impact of air pollution on the health of vulnerable people, such as those with asthma and other breathing difficulties.

Government not ‘passing the buck’
The Government believes there is very little chance that it will be fined for poor air quality during the Olympics next year. But in a House of Lords debate, the Government was accused of passing the buck.

Modelling reports published for review
David Carslaw of Kings College London has completed three modelling evaluation reports. The reports feed in to a review of models currently being carried out by Defra (AQB September 2010 p3).

Extra checks
FDMS Teom particle monitors are to receive extra checks.

Spelman: Air not in regs purge
Following concerns that planned red tape cuts could lead to removal of key environmental legislation, Green Party MP for Brighton Caroline Lucas asked Parliament what environmental policies were in line for revocation.

Casella wins large Defra gas monitoring contract
Casella Monitor has won the Defra contract to supply, deliver and install 58 gas analysers and associated logging and communication equipment into the Government Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) air quality monitoring network.

Padeswood cement works shows no impact
Air quality around the Hanson cement plant in Padeswood is good, claims an official report.

Renewed CO2 push
A limit on the total amount of greenhouse gases to be emitted by the UK between 2023 to 2027 has been proposed to cut emissions by 50% from 1990 levels.

Model map out
Modelled 1x1km concentration data from Defra’s national models are now available from UK-AIR.

March event dissected
AEA has produced a short summary of the pollution event that took place in March.

Online emissions
New online emission maps have been published by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency.

Gone to Golder
Stuart McGowan and Jennifer Simpson have joined Golder’s air quality team at its Edinburgh office.

Maynard event
An afternoon of talks will be held at King's College London on 6th June to mark the retirement of Professor Bob Maynard from the Health Protection Agency.

Trains monitored
A new monitoring site has been set up near the Paddington main railway line in a bid to pick up NOx impacts of diesel trains.

Tolls widened
Road toll prices for the haulage industry as capped under the Eurovignette directive were originally intended to cover only

Car share bonus
Car club members produce on average 25% of the emissions of those who own cars, a TRL survey for car share firm Carplus suggests.

Dust guidance
Stephen Moorcroft of Air Quality Consultants is leading a group set up on behalf of the Institute of Air Quality Management to develop guidance on suitable methods and approaches to dust and particulate matter (PM) monitoring of construction activities.

Scotland 2010 review
Scottish air quality has been reviewed in its latest annual report.

EU levels
The annual status report released by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that while EU-27 emissions for three air pollutants are projected to meet the ceilings, nitrogen oxides emissions for the EU-27 as a whole will exceed its ceiling by 17%.

Comeap members
Three new members have been appointed to the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (Comeap).

London Bus trial
Transport for London (TfL) is carrying out a trial that will see 18 buses retrofitted with specialist equipment to tackle NOx air pollution.

Dedring move
GLA head of environment Isobel Dedring, has been replaced by Kulveer Ranger.

Deaths or DALYs?
Debate rages on about the best language to describe air pollution health effects, finds Jack Pease. Has the number of deaths had its day?

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May 2011 issue 61

PM10 breaches vanish (on paper)
A hot and polluted Spring season finished up with both PM10 and ozone reaching ‘high’ levels over the Easter break. But yet another change in pollution metrics means that the event does not breach objectives.

£5m to help London pollution
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond is giving the London mayor £5m to improve air pollution in London.

Grants saved
Air quality grants for England have survived government cuts – albeit reduced by nearly 20%.

Progress reporting
For authorities awarded grant funding in 2010-2011, a single progress report will be required in September 2011.

Boris’s blame bounces
London Mayor Boris Johnson says exceedences can be blamed on bad air in Europe. He also blamed Europe for “imposing” the low emission zone on the Capital.

Gwyn Jones dies suddenly
Gwyn Jones of AEA died suddenly last month. He was 42 and had a pre-existing heart condition.

ERG solves grey dots enigma
ERG has denied that its websites have failed to pick up the recent pollution episode.

Local action yields big benefits
Coordinated local action on pollution and climate change can provide huge benefits, a new report from Local Government Regulation (LGR) suggests.

EPA produces pollution storybook for kids
“Coco has a problem. He’s a chameleon, but he can’t change colours, and his asthma is acting up.

Red tape cuts annoy environmental lobby
The Government has included environmental regulation in its list of ‘red tape’.

Europe raps UK knuckles on access to justice
The European Commission is taking the UK to the EU Court of Justice over the high cost of challenges to decisions on the environment.

Biffa slated by High Court judge
The High Court has found against residents in a legal battle about odour near a landfill site in Ware, Herts – but heavily criticised Biffa and the Environment Agency.

Storey receives AQB merit award
Jim Storey of the Environment Agency is the proud winner of this year’s AQB award. It is given to those who do something special on air quality.

Port Talbot: new year, new report
Yet another report has come out about pollution in Port Talbot. Is the steelworks the elephant in the room?, asks Jack Pease

Biofuels: not bad
Biofuels have acquired a dirty reputation – but Aqeg suggests they are relatively clean in air quality terms

Olympic record?
A strategic environmental assessment of the Olympic Games suggests that increases in traffic along the Olympic Route Network will lead to European legal limits on air pollution being exceeded.

H4 guide finalised
The Environment Agency’s H4 guide to odour has been officially released.

Hinton odour win
Hinton Organics has won a four and a half year long court battle over perceived noise, bio-aerosol and odour nuisance issues at its composting site near Keynsham, Bristol.

Class action
Law firm Hugh James is launching a class action against The Monckton Coke and Chemical for compensation in relation to the odour, noise and dust nuisance coming from its site located at Royston in Barnsley.

Marner moves up
Dr Ben Marner has been promoted to technical director within Air Quality Consultants.

Scotland reports
AEA has produced its annual report of air quality in Scotland.

Site rankings
King’s has ranked the most popular monitoring sites in the London air quality network according to the different ways they were viewed.

Invisible dust
King’s College is working with Invisible Dust – an arts and environmental science organisation on a major new collaboration involving artists and scientists working together to engage and educate the public about air quality issues in London which is supported by the Wellcome Trust.

Construction dust
Stephen Moorcroft of Air Quality Consultants, is leading a group set up on behalf of the Institute of Air Quality Management to develop guidance on suitable methods and approaches to dust and particulate matter monitoring of construction activities.

LGR cut
Local Government Regulation – formerly Lacors – has outlined how it will function following cuts of 45%.

News from the Mcerts conference and exhibition held in telford last month

Air Monitors goes portable
Air Monitors was proud of its new portable gas monitor.

Beta for Air Monitors
Air Monitors – renowned for its backing of the Teom and FDMS particle monitors – is now marketing a beta gauge for PM2.5 and PM10.

Tipping: 7 into 1 directive now in
Speaking at the recent Mcerts exhibition and conference held in Telford, the Environment Agency’s John Tipping explained how the Industrial Emissions Directive is likely to affect the UK monitoring community.

Enviro pushes blue light converter
Enviro Technology was keen to push its ‘blue light converter’ analyser on its Mcerts stand.

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April 2011 issue 60

Government lobbies on NO2
The Government is talking to Europe about changing the EU directive mandatory targets for nitrogen dioxide.

Short term plan or else, says EU
Britain has been told it will avoid fines for failing to cut PM10 – but only if it submits a credible short term plan to reduce exceedences.

NO2/NOx trends report prompts change
A ground breaking report has confirmed that new engines have failed to cut pollution as much as officially claimed.

PM10 declaration
Dust from a quarry has prompted declaration of an air quality management area at Mountsorrel.

March pollution reaches high
ERG has reported on an extended period of poor air quality over the south east of England during March. There have been over twice as many moderate days this year as in the same period last year.

Black carbon benefits listed
A report has analysed the co-benefits of cutting black carbon emissions.

London Mayor pressed on new plan
At the London mayor’s ‘question time’ last month, prominent Green Party assembly member Darren Johnson asked Boris Johnson if he would revise London’s air quality plan to include short term measures as required by the European Commission’s conditional judgement on a PM10 time extension.

Euro 6 engines roll off the line
Truck maker Mercedes claims to be the first truck maker to produce Euro 6 trucks.

Ecostar scheme spreads to Devon
Mid Devon Council is running the Ecostars fleet recognition scheme. The South Yorks Care4Air-inspired scheme rewards fleet operators who have cleaner vehicles and operate them efficiently.

Biomass boost causes air pollution concerns
English subsidies for renewable heat may prompt more air pollution, Epuk warns. Meanwhile Scotland has included protection for air quality in its relaxation of planning controls.

Defra hints on future changes
Defra air quality boss Robert Vaughan has provided clues on the future direction of English air quality policy.

£42,000 for poultry odour nuisance
Excessive smells have led to a poultry firm being fined £30,000 with £12,000 costs

Traffic light guide to AQ & climate change
Epuk has produced a guide for local authorities on how to combine air quality and climate change actions. It includes a ‘traffic light’ guide to various measures to illustrate techniques that have win-win impacts on both air quality and climate change.

Clayton dies
Dame Barbara Clayton has died aged 88. Clayton was extremely active in the National Society for Clean Air, now Epuk.

Fees frozen
Local authority permit fees have been frozen for the coming year.

Diesel surcharge
Parking permits in Kensington and Chelsea will cost more for drivers of diesel vehicles.

Opal weather watch
Opal, a Big Lottery project run by a grouping including Imperial College and the Environment Agency, has turned its attention to climate change.

Essexair website
The Essex Air Quality Consortium has launched a new website www.essexair.org.uk

Year of Air Janez Potoènik,
European Commissioner for Environment, hopes to make 2013 the “Year of Air” with an increased focus on tackling air pollution.

Planning slashed
Last month’s Budget saw the Government confirm it will slash detailed planning guidance. PPS23 is likely to be junked.

Prenergy approved
The Prenergy wood burning power station in Port Talbot has succeeded in lifting pollution limits in its permit.

Heavies probe
DfT is seeking opinions on polluting emissions of buses and trucks in an open ended questionnaire.

Inventory explained
The UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) team has described the background to latest emission inventories

Monitors poor capture
Data capture from the automatic monitoring network has shown a fall, latest figures reveal.

Horn Lane numbers
In our article on Horn Lane, Defra has corrected data contained within the Hansard report from which we quoted.

Scottish traps
Scottish Government’s Bus Retro-fitting Fund has awarded Glasgow City Council £281,000 and City of Edinburgh Council £243,000 to retrospectively fit emission reduction equipment to older buses, benefitting the cities with better, cleaner and healthier air quality.

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March 2011 issue 59

H4 guidance: nearly there?
It has been nearly a decade since H4 draft guidance on odour was released. It was never finalised – but could be soon, finds Jack Pease

CIWEM seeks doubling of odour standard
The professional body for the water industry would prefer to see an odour limit double that being suggested in planning and technical guidance.

Air improves yet again?
Defra’s provisional air quality indicator shows a continued dramatic reduction in urban and rural moderate and high pollution days at monitoring sites.

Birkett wins City of London air award
Campaigner Simon Birkett has won the air quality section of City of London Corporation’s annual Sustainable City Awards.

Infraction decision imminent?
The European Commission is expected to announce a decision on the UK’s PM10 extension imminently. UK wants extra time to meet PM10 objective levels.

Barrowcliffe moves
Following 21 years at ERM, most recently as a partner, Roger Barrowcliffe has joined the Canadian consulting company RWDI to develop an air quality practice in the UK.

Lester to TRL
Alaric Lester has joined TRL as head of the emissions and assessment team.

Massive fine for render firm...
John Knight (ABP) Ltd, an animal rendering firm in Newham, East London has been fined £75,000 with £75,000 costs for breaches of the Environmental Permitting Regulations following a lengthy investigation after a significant increase in complaints of odour.

... as Perth composter also clobbered
A waste management company was fined £14,000 after offensive odours from their composting site repeatedly affected residents in Abernethy in Perthshire.

Birkett loses freedom of information fight
Award winning London clean air campaigner Simon Birkett has the latest round in his fight to force the disclosure of discussions about air quality between the Government and the London mayor.

NHS group condemns biomass
Biomass has been criticised by the NHS in a response to a consultation

2010 shows continued lack of improvement
King’s College ERG has released its provisional index of air quality in London in 2010.

Episode reported
King’s has reported on a pollution episode in mid February.

Emissions directive at Mcerts
The forthcoming Mcerts exhibition and conference is to focus on the implications of the new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) published earlier this year.
l www.mcerts.uk.com

Blue light could aid NO2 measurement
Local authorities seeking more accurate NO2 readings should consider using analysers which incorporate blue light converters’ says monitor firm Enviro Technology.

Ecostars evaluation contract
AQMRC have been awarded a contract to evaluate South Yorkshire’s Eco-Stars fleet recognition scheme. It was set up in South Yorkshire in 2009 with the aim of improving air quality. Consultant TTR manages the scheme for the local authority grouping.

Grugeon outlines Epuk direction
Six months after James Grugeon took the helm at Epuk, what has he found, and what is he planning? AQB subjected him to a question and answer session

Calderdale refusal
An appeal to install a biomass burner in Calderdale has failed.

Minister coming
Transport minister Norman Baker is to speak at the 2011 Sussex air quality seminar to be held on 11th March at Gatwick.

Experts sought
The Department is seeking a small expert panel to help in assessing Local Sustainable Transport Fund bids (AQB February p4).

Iapsc changes
Conference organiser Iapsc is trialling a new format.

Limit? What limit?
Transport minister Theresa Villiers has appeared to downplay the importance of the NO2 limit value.

Air website gone
Defra has replaced www.airquality.co.uk with a new portal within its own website frames.

Carbon tool
DfT has published a tool to help them calculate carbon benefits.

AEA rocks
The Gibraltar Environmental Agency, has appointed AEA to help it meet its European air quality obligations.

US clean air plea
Nearly 2,000 doctors, nurses and other respiratory health professionals have jointly sent a letter to US president Barack Obama to protest against possible dilution of clean air laws.

Tree types help urban air
Some trees are better than others at improving the air quality of towns and cities according to an environmental expert in a new book.

Durham declares
Durham County Council is declaring a new air quality management area.

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February 2011 issue 58

Agency drops motorway monitoring
The Highways Agency is ceasing funding of four key motorway air quality monitoring stations.

NGOs join forces to lobby Commissioner
Air quality dominated the visit of EU Environment Commissioner Potocnik to London last month.

Last strategy
The recent London air quality strategy could be the last, the Localism Bill suggests.

Filters for kids
Schools in Los Angeles are to use air filters to cut asthma.

Dust guidance coming soon
Following on from its success in produce guidance on planning significance in air quality, the Institute of Air Quality Management is planning to develop guidance on construction dust.

ERG updates air quality iphone app
ERG’s free air quality iPhone app has been updated.

Legal threat lifted from TfL
TfL has responded to campaign group Clean Air in London’s threat to launch a judicial review of the Mayors decision to remove the western extension of the congestion charging zone.

Experts quizzed in London air inquiry
Members of the GLA Environment Committee have held an inquiry into air quality in London.

Publicity starts on LEZ stage 3
The London Mayor has started publicising the tightening up of the low emission zone.

LTP replacement is revealed
The funding mechanism that will replace Local Transport Plan regime, along with others, has been announced.

Have EU air quality regulations worked?
Full implementation of European emission standards for vehicles and industry could yield significantly improved air quality, a report suggests.

UK releases pollution summary
The UK government has released its fuller summary of air quality in the UK as reported to the European Commission.

Background released on directive compliance
Defra has published its thinking behind its submissions to Europe concerning directive compliance.

Horn Lane hits the headlines
The Horn Lane waste transfer monitoring site is causing exceedences in London and was the subject of a Parliamentary debate

Guide renamed
Epuk’s popular Pollution Control Handbook has been relaunched as Essential Environment – A Comprehensive Guide to UK and European Legislation.

Airport lobbying
London Mayor Boris Johnson has thrown his weight behind expansion of aviation in the South East of England.

European overview
Separately, the European Environment Agency ‘state of the environment’ report provides a set of assessments of the current state of Europe’s environment and future predictions.

NECD delay
The National Emission Ceilings Directive will not be renewed until 2013.

Speed cut cut
Spanish authorities are set to abolish a speed limit introduced to improve air quality.

Monitor equivalence
Particle monitors in use in the UK have been reassessed for equivalence against latest guidance.

‘Hot’ workshop
Epuk is finalising details of its annual two day workshop to be held on 6/7th April in Warwickshire.

How are the cuts biting?
AQB’s sister newsletter Noise Bulletin recently asked environmental health officers how the cuts were biting. The findings will be of interest to air quality professionals

PM2.5 unpicked by regulators
Regulators have joined together to look at what must be done about fine particles. They warn of surprisingly large cuts needed to meet directive requirements

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January 2011 issue 57

EU fines passed on to councils
In a surprise move, it has emerged that the Localism Bill proposes to allow the Government to pass on EU fines to councils.

29,000 says Comeap ...
Having resisted putting a figure on the annual number of deaths caused by air pollution, Comeap has agreed a figure of 29,000

... and agrees on asthma
In Comeap’s pre-Christmas clear out of policy pronouncements, it has for the first time accepted that ambient air pollution can cause – rather than just exacerbate asthma.

Industrial Directive becomes official
The European Industrial Emissions Directive has been adopted. It should be transposed into UK law by January 2013.

Planning to be simplified
The Coalition Government has added further detail to its plans to simplify planning guidance.

Rugby protester wins stand on justice
Rugby protester Lillian Pallikaropoulos believes she has scored further points for the cause of environmental justice.

Holman moves
Consultant Environ is expanding its air quality capability with the appointment of Claire Holman as a principal.

WHO details indoor air guidelines
The World Health Organisation has agreed new guidelines for indoor air quality.

Environment Tools Listing over 400 green environmental accounting software tools, and techniques for measuring environmental and sustainability performance, the Environment Tools Directory is claimed to be the largest up-to-date and independent database of environmental software tools anywhere on the web.
l www.environmenttools.co.uk

Big drop from method change
Changing the calculation method has allowed Defra to claim a 13% reduction in NOX emissions in 2009, the latest year for which data is available. The apparent cut is the latest in a series of methodological changes that have led to favourable changes in pollution.

AQB ‘yardstick’: slight improvement for 2010
The Air Quality Bulletin ‘yardstick’ (the green line) is a rough and ready measure aimed at providing a quick summary of national air pollution soon after the New Year and some weeks before official figures can be produced.

Backpeddling on NO2?
Nitrogen dioxide monitors may be overestimating concentrations, Swiss expert Robert Gehrig told the RSC Advancing Automation and Analytical Measurement (AAMG) conference.

Couples enlisted to test personal exposure
Belgian researchers have studied personal exposures of eight couples to establish where people receive most pollutant exposure.

Air pollution photo competition launched
Monitor firm Enviro Technology Services Plc has launched a nationwide competition to find the best photos on the theme of air pollution.

Transhipment study assesses impacts
A report into Freight Consolidation Centres (FCCs) recognises there may be some air quality benefits, although these are not costed.

Mayor finalises air strategy
The London Mayor has released his final air quality strategy.

Biomethane comes to Camden
Camden has opened London’s first publicly accessible compressed biomethane gas refuelling station and commercial electric vehicle charging point.

London researchers scoop £2m contract
Kings College London’s Environmental Research Group is starting a new four year, £2m contract to study traffic pollution in London.

Northern Ireland air
Air pollution in Northern Ireland has remained mostly static in recent years, AEA’s annual report for air quality in 2009 suggests.

Glimmer of hope for air quality?
Moving public health to local authorities could signal more recognition of the health effects of air quality

Rhondda bid success
AQMRC have recently been awarded a 15-month contract with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to undertake a detailed and further assessment at Glyncoch, near Pontypridd.

Shepherd now MD
Casella Measurement has announced the appointment of Adrian Shepherd as its new managing director who comes in from outside the organisation. l casellameasurement.com

California backs down
Tough anti pollution laws have been watered down by California because of the recession.

Digester odour
The Environment Agency is consulting on standard rules for anaerobic digesters and the associated combustion of the biogas, and how far it should allow digesters to be from homes, businesses and sites of ecological importance.

Aether win
Consultant Aether together with Entec and the Institute of Occupational Medicine have been awarded a project by the European Commission on industrial emissions of nano and ultrafine particles with a view to informing regulatory policy.

Detailed data
Detailed data on local industrial emissions has been updated.

Netregs move
The Netregs portal is to close down and be included in English, Welsh and Northern Irish BusinessLink websites.

Scottish projections
The Scottish Government has published pollutant maps showing the modelled spatial NO2 and gravimetric PM10 concentrations in 2008.

More dioxin breaches
Environment Agency Wales is acting following further dioxin exceedences at the Crymlyn Burrows incinerator.

Walk to school emissions monitored
Balfour junior school is the first in the city to take part in a science project that involves monitoring vehicle emissions near Brighton schools.

Dublin and Cork taint Irish air
The Irish EPA has released a report on air quality showing exceedences in Dublin and Cork.

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December 2010 issue 56

Public health to include air?
Government public health proposals could have major implications for air quality and other environmental health functions. They will ‘empower’ local government with new resources, rights and powers to shape the environment.

20mph improve safety and air quality
A road safety group claims that 20mph speed limits do not worsen air quality.

Busy traffic may cause asthma: Comeap
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (Comeap) has accepted that busy traffic may cause – not just worsen – asthma.

TfL trials dust suppressant
Trials have now started on using road sweeping and dust suppressants to reduce PM10 in London hotspots.

Rugby caught on camera
Rugby cement protester Lillian Pallikaropoulos has been back in the Supreme Court.

Few surprises in AQ defence
The Coalition Government has responded to the hard hitting Environmental Audit Committee report into air quality released earlier this year (AQB April p8).

Tighter odour standards for sewage works?
Waste water developments could be subject to tighter standards in the future.

Community Infrastructure Levy is confirmed
The Government has confirmed that the Community Infrastructure Levy will be retained. It was introduced as part of the 2008 Planning Act, but put under review.

New website for London
The LondonAir Nowcast has been launched as part of an updated LondonAir website.

Smart and tweeting
The Airtext air quality forecasts for London are now published on Twitter and as an RSS feed.

Fireworks night leads to particle peaks
Wet and windy weather prevented a build up of pollution on bonfire night, but on the following day, more settled conditions led to peaks.

Another moderate episode for London
Widespread moderate PM10 particulate was measured across London on Tuesday 16th November.

Data captures drops below 90%
Particle monitors are still playing up in the Automatic Urban and Rural Monitoring Network (AURN).

No to LEZ’s, says Laxen
Air quality guru Duncan Laxen has suggested that low emission zones may not help air quality.

Low emission strategy: UK first for Devon?
Mid Devon’s Simon Newcombe claimed a possible UK first for managing to combine a low emission strategy into the district’s Local Development Framework (LDF).

Government responds to MPs
The coalition government has responded to a Parliamentary report that criticised UK air quality policy earlier this year

Helpdesk contracts confirmed
Contracts have now been signed for the shake up of air quality helpdesk and support arrangements.

Two channel sampler
Monitor firm Enviro Technology is to market the FAI SWAM5a Dual Channel particle device. It claims it is the most flexible particulate measurement system available, is Mcerts approved and meets the criteria for EN12341 and EN14907.

Compliance thoughts
The European Commission is looking at a strategy that will try to ensure better compliance with environmental laws.

After the cuts
Cuts and localism go hand in hand, Cassie Harrison told the Epuk conference. Enviros addition Dr Alun McIntyre has recently joined SKM Enviros as technical lead – air quality.

Cambridge tackles its buses
Many complain that the air quality process has led to little action. Cambridge is bucking the trend in having a plan that might actually work. Jack Pease looks at what is planned

Scottish biomass
A Scottish version of Epuk’s Biomass and air quality guidance for local authorities has been published.

Filters for light trucks
Eminox has designed a diesel particle filter for vehicles whose engines may not warm up enough to make a conventional trap work properly.

Reviewers chosen to review modelling
Prof Martin Williams, formerly head of air quality of Defra and now at Kings College London, has been appointed to head up the steering group set up by Defra to oversee the air quality modelling review (AQB September p3).

Emission factor update
Defra and the regions have provided an updated Emission Factors Toolkit (Version 4.22) based on ‘new’ 2009 vehicle emissions factors.

Bias adjusted
The latest national bias adjustment factor spreadsheet (v.09/10) is now available and can be found in the usual place in the LAQM tools section http://laqm1.defra.gov.uk/review/tools/no2/baf-

Cities ranked
Cities have been ranked in terms of the general environmental attributes – and air quality specifically.

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November 2010 issue 55

NO2: Up? Down? You choose
Councils ‘may wish’ to have regard to recent evidence that NO2 concentrations are not going down as predicted in official guidance. Defra admits Euro standards may not improve air quality until 2015.

All change for Defra advice teams
There has been widespread shock at news that Defra’s helpdesk and assessment consultants have lost their contracts.

Edinburgh sets biomass policy
Edinburgh City Council has set out a new biomass policy, it is thought to be one of the first to do so.

Extension to London charge abolished
Mayor Boris Johnson says the Western Extension to the London congestion charge will be removed by the end of the year.

Aqeg reaches the people
In a departure from its usual behaviour, the Air Quality Expert Group is to hold a public inquiry into pollution near the Port Talbot steelworks.

Scunthorpe steelworks modelled
AEA has released a report of a detailed modelling exercise of the Scunthorpe steelworks site.

Further draft national policy statements
Draft energy national policy statements – which cover power generation and larger biomass plants – have been reissued in draft form.

Maynard: upper limit of 72,000?
The numbers of air pollution deaths could be as high as 72,000 a year, the Health Protection Agency’s Bob Maynard has admitted.

Kelly: limit is not tough enough
Current air pollutant limits are not strict enough, ERG’s Professor Frank Kelly told the Bristol UWE/Epuk conference in Bristol last month.

Expert group becomes expert committee
Air quality quangos have emerged relatively unscathed in the public spending review.

UK submits to Brussels
The UK has submitted its annual air quality compliance report for 2009 to the Commission. It shows little change on previous years.

Spending review: where the cuts fall
Last month’s public spending review has outlined which departments will be cut.

Further review for Epuk
Incoming Epuk chief executive James Grugeon has launched a review of Epuk.

GIS datasets of AQMAs released
Maps and datasets of current air quality management areas in the UK are contained in a new report. 2010 updated GIS dataset of air quality management areas can be downloaded from www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Bus idling is a huge problem
A study suggests buses idling for long periods cause a lot of unnecessary pollution.

Innovative emissions envelope for Cambridge
Consultant Cerc last month celebrated its 25th anniversary. It commemorated the event with a dinner and conference.

Guide to protesting about air quality
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has released a guide for environmental activists on how to use Freedom of Information requests to aid campaigning.

Know your rights
The Environmental Law Foundation has produced a briefing Understanding your right to a healthy environment

11 will breach
The European Environment Agency has confirmed that 11 EU countries expect to exceed their legal emissions ceiling for nitrogen oxides (NOx) in 2010, some by more than 40%.

Schools free-for-all
Consultation is underway that may see new schools exempted from the need to get planning permission.

No rise in LAPC charges
Fees and charges for local authority regulated industrial plant will not rise in 2011/12, Defra proposes. Usually there are inflationary rises to compensate local authorities.

Ecodriving off
Ecodriving training will not become a mandatory part of commercial vehicle training requirements, the Government says. Instead it will rely on voluntary efforts within industrial training schemes.

Aberdeen floats idea of low emission zone
Aberdeen has proposed a draft action plan to improve concentrations in its three AQMAs. It replaces the previous 2006 city centre action plan.

Casella scraps
Casella CEL is re-running its scrappage scheme for monitors – a ‘new-for-old’ replacement scheme for monitoring instruments.

Bias adjusted
The latest national bias adjustment factor spreadsheet (v.09/10) is now available and can be found in the usual place in the LAQM Tools section http://laqm1.defra.gov.uk/review/tools/no2/baf-national.php.

Procurement thinktank
The Low Emission Strategies Programme is developing draft guidance on the use of procurement to reduce emissions from road transport.

Charges mooted for truck pollution
EU ministers have voted in favour of new EU rules to allow member states to charge heavy lorries for air and noise pollution costs as well as road damage costs.

Cities ranked
UK cities have been ranked in terms of the general environmental attributes – and air quality specifically. London is the worst.

Monitoring talks
AAMG is organising a conference on monitoring on the 14-15th December in London.

ET gets the T
Enviro Technology is to sell new versions of Teledyne gas analysers.

Data toolbox
The Environment Agency has developed an Excel spreadsheet application that manipulates air-quality data collected from an air-quality monitoring station to simplify and speed up the production of wind roses, pollution roses, and graphs showing the influence of time of day and wind speed on pollutant concentrations.

New Perth website
Perth and Kinross has updated its air quality website.
Black smoke The annual black smoke network report has been released.

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October 2010 issue 54

Emissions key to LAQM
Emissions-based measurements could be the key to measuring progress towards improving air quality, the Low Emissions Strategy Partnership (LES) says. It believes the current regime is “toothless”.

City of London launches air quality award
An air quality award has been added to the City of London’s annual green awards scheme.

Welsh rationalisation
The Welsh Assembly may combine Environment Agency Wales with other environmental bodies.

Scott’s to URS
URS Corporation has bought consultant Scott Wilson Group.

Deaths figure is acknowledged
Further weight has been given to the suggestion that the number of air quality deaths may be more than hitherto thought.

Birkett fears UK may argue against rules
Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) campaigner Simon Birkett suspects the UK and other member states may try to lobby together to water down EU air quality directive provisions.

Kings College ERG conference held in London last month

Councils told to up their game
Defra’s Tim Williamson urged local authorities to ‘raise their game’ on air quality.

Concentrations may be dropping at last
Recent unratified data from the London air quality monitoring network hints that pollution concentrations may at last be falling.

Road sweeping trials despite mixed success
TfL is to trial road sweeping and use of dust suppressants from this month, GLA’s Rachel Conti has announced.

New fund to replace LTp
The Government is to set up a new Local Sustainable Transport Fund replacing other funding streams such as local transport plan (LTP) funding.

Quango cuts
The Daily Telegraph has obtained a copy of a letter listing quangos that are

News from the S.Yorks Care4Air conference held in Sheffield

DfT: One in, one out regs rule
DfT’s Iain Forbes told the Care4Air conference in Sheffield that policies in future are set to change following pronouncements from the incoming coalition Government.

Low emission toolkit nears completion
A low emission assessment toolkit is being trialled, delegates at Sheffield’s Care4Air conference were told

East Devon secures bonfire smoke fine
East Devon District Council’s environmental health team has won an appeal lodged by an East Devon resident who had been found guilty of causing a nuisance by lighting fires which affected neighbouring properties.

LAPC snapshot
Consultant Entec has completed a review of how English and Welsh local authorities are managing local industrial emissions through the Local Authority Pollution Control (LAPC) regime.

Blacklock move
Graeme Blacklock, who was formerly with WYG Manchester, has joined the SLR air quality team as an associate in its Warrington office.

20mph limits can cut emissions
Berlin’s Department of Health air quality manager Martin Lutz told the ERG conference of the efforts being put into reducing emissions and

Sevenoaks gets s106
A new Sainsbury’s extension in Otford, Kent, has been given the go ahead. Developer contributions negotiated with Sevenoaks District Council include £30,000 to monitor air quality under a section 106 agreement.

Iapsc plea
Conference organisation Iapsc is asking its members, especially local authorities (or the consultancies that have worked with them), to contribute case study presentations on action plan-related topics, for the December 2010 conference (to be held on 13th Dec 2010 at Birmingham City Council House.

Strategic planning plea from CPRE
CPRE is calling on ministers not to abandon strategic planning in their drive to forward the Government’s localism agenda.

Redhill declared
Reigate and Banstead has declared a further air quality management area in Redhill, Surrey, the latest in a series of airport, road and motorway-prompted declarations.

Consultant numbers dip
the annual Air quality bulletin consultancy rankings

Models may underestimate NO2
A paper presented by Arup’s Michael Bull earlier this year suggests modelling may be underestimating NO2 concentrations

London: can anything be done?
A pair of reports have surfaced that take a detailed look to see if local measures can do anything about London’s pollution hotspots

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September 2010 issue 53

Website review: see our condensed rankings

Turbine fears for air quality
There are concerns that the recent trend to install wind turbines at industrial premises could impact on dispersion of factory pollutants.

London strategy is still not ‘fit for purpose’
The Campaign for Clean Air in London says that the draft London air quality strategy is not fit for purpose.

Grant is saved: who won what?
Cuts, cuts, cuts – and yet this year’s air quality grant has emerged unscathed! The grants were released as AQB went to press.

Three modellers to advise Defra
Defra is looking for three modellers to act as an expert steering group to oversee the possible revamp of official UK air quality modelling procedures.

Cement protest prompts judgement on UK
The case of cement protester Lillian Pallikaropoulos has led to an international judgement going against the UK.

Train savings
East Midlands Trains has introduced an energy saving mode that will help save 800,000 litres of fuel each year and cut idling emissions.

Emission seminars
Two free seminars are being held by Enviro Technology Services and PCME to highlight best practice for industrial air emissions and industrial air emission monitoring techniques.

Biomass squeezes Clean Air Act
AEA reported to Scottish Government ways that biomass burning can be increased without breaching regulations such as the Clean Air Act.

US site questions biomass use
As Scotland looks to ways for making it easier to burn biomass, a pressure group website in the US argues against biomass burning.

Horsham declaration
Horsham District Council is considering declaring Storrington, near Horsham, as an air quality management area.

Diesel hybrid car
French car manufacturer Peugeot is launching what it believes is the first full diesel Hybrid vehicle.

Odour leads to £92,000 fine in South Staffs
Composting firm Jack Moody Limited was sentenced to fines and costs of £92,000 at Stafford Magistrates’ Court on 12 July for causing smells and emissions from a composting site in Shareshill, near Wolverhampton.

Supermarket thwarted
An extension to a supermarket in Sheffield has been refused on air quality grounds.

Review feedback
Defra’s review and assessment helpdesk team is currently undertaking a contract evaluation.

Dust notice
Windsor and Maidenhead council has served a dust abatement notice on the Shanly Group and their contractors working on Badnell’s Pit in Blackamoor Lane, Maidenhead.

Russian fires
Fires in Russia have pushed PM10 levels up tenfold, experts say.

Delay to off road
The European Commission has a agreed a two year extension on emissions legislation affecting Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) (eg chainsaws, cranes, bulldozers or locomotives).

Care4Air conference
The sixth annual A Clearer Future Conference will be held in Sheffield on Wednesday 22nd September.


Snapshot of results from our 2010 website review:

Local authority top ten:

Others: our ranking

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August 2010 issue 52

Air quality key to Ealing refusal
A combined heat and power biomass plant has been refused permission because background air quality is not improving.

Reliance on falling NO2 in doubt
At a technical meeting organised by the Institute of Air Quality Management held in London last month, it emerged that Defra is now openly accepting that NO2 is not falling. Further, it is contemplating advice to local authorities and planners that they should no longer assume NO2 will reduce.

Westlakes down
Consultant Westlakes Scientific Consulting has gone into administration. The firm was strong in air quality modelling.

Grugeon begins
James Grugeon has taken over from Philip Mulligan as Epuk’s chief executive.

White Paper discussions start
The Government has launched ‘informal’ discussions to shape a White Paper on the environment due in Spring 2011.

Cuts, cuts and more cuts: HPA, RCEP goes
More quangos have been cut by the incoming government.

Protocol agreed for shared process regulation
A draft protocol has been proposed in a bid to solve the grey area of nuisance enforcement for odour, dust and noise from processes.

News from the air quality forecasting meeting held in London

Event-free year, says Willis
2009 was relatively free of air pollution events, AEA’s Paul Willis told the air quality forecasting conference.

Fuller details ash impact on airports
ERG’s Gary Fuller gave the forecasting conference more detail on the air quality impact of the Icelandic volcano ash cloud on airports.

Defra unveils scale of reviews
Speaking at last month’s air quality forecasting meeting organised by AEA and held at Imperial College, Defra’s Samantha Lawrence outlined a plethora of contracts and projects that are under review.

Congestion charge probe ends
Consultation has ended on the London Mayor’s plan to remove the Western Extension of the Congestion Charging Zone (WEZ).

LEZ delay is criticised. ‘Absurd’ says Epuk
Responses to the consultation on the delay to the introduction of the third phase of the London low emission zone have been published.

IAQM: London strategy modelling concerns
The Institute of Air Quality Management is concerned at the lack of modelling used to support the London Air quality strategy.

Demand for emissions equality
Volvo Cars has launched an Emissions Equality publicity campaign to get the public to consider polluting emissions as well as climate change impacts.

European air pollution landscape improves
The annual EU-27 emission inventory reported under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention confirms that emissions of most air pollutants continue to decline.

Airports set out guidance to cut emissions
UK airport operators have launched new guidelines to reduce aircraft ground emissions.

All change on NO2?
A huge policy shift was signalled in a technical meeting discussing the failure of NO2 concentrations to fall as expected

Opal takes air to the people
Jack Pease visits a lottery funded project that aims to take air quality science to the general public

ADMS update soon
Software developer Cerc has announced that ADMS-Urban, ADMS-Roads and EMIT 3.0 coming soon

Permitting change
The Government is consulting on a series of amendments to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.

LAQM tender opportunities
Defra and the devolved regions are seeking consultants for LAQM work.

Noise and air linked
An international conference on noise has included papers on possible linkages and confounding of noise and air quality impacts in urban areas.

Microgeneration probe
The Government announced a consultation on a new microgeneration strategy.

Shoestring conference
Epuk is holding a topical conference on how to management air quality on a shoestring.

Energy again
The Government is having another stab at drafting national policy statements for energy.

Scottish biomass
Epuk Scotland has produced a draft guidance document Biomass and Air Quality Guidance for Scottish Local Authorities.

Rushlight awards
Rushlight Awards are open for entries for categories covering renewable energy, clean fuels, energy efficiency, power generation, green products and services, water, waste and environmental monitoring and management.

McCrae award
The Institute for Air Quality Management has set up the Ian McCrae Travel Award.

Five days on air
A course to help traffic and environmental officers tackle poor urban air quality will be presented by North East academics on 8th-12th November.

Indicator compendium
A report published by Defra brings together an extensive range of economic, social and environmental indicators to provide a statistical overview of the country’s progress. Ecological impacts of air quality indicators are not improving.

Electric grant saved
The Government has confirmed that £5,000 grants towards purchase of an ultra-low carbon car will be available from January 2011.

Dry cleaning draft
Defra has released draft process guidance notes for dry cleaning processes regulated by local authorities.

Burning fine
A Stranraer demolition company was fined £3,200 at Stranraer Sheriff Court following offences involving the burning of waste bricks, soil, plastics, electrical cable, roofing materials and wood.

CIEH gets Kidney
David Kidney, former MP and climate change minister, has been appointed head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) following his departure from Parliament in the May general election. Biodiversity revealed Eighteen UK biodiversity indicators are presented in a new document.

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July 2010 issue 51

London pollution exposed
Air Quality campaigner Simon Birkett has succeeded in forcing the Mayor of London to release ward-level statistics on the number of air pollution deaths.

Another study fails to validate de-NOx paint
An exhaustive study carried out to test whether NOX eating paint works has failed to draw any conclusions.

NOx eating paint prompts HONO fears
Professor Rod Jones of Cambridge University explained how NOx eating paint could generate unwanted side effects.

Air pollution acts as earthquake indicator
Air quality monitoring could provide early warnings of earthquakes, Taiwan researchers suggest.

Lacors advises on ‘clean bill of health
Local authority group Lacors has published A clean bill of health, a guide that summarises for councillors, and other local decision makers, the health effects of pollution and what councils and their partners can do to improve the health of their communities.

Recession buster from SupportingU
SupportingU is offering multi year contracts with no obligation to take a second or third year.

Cleaner vans
The dash for higher horsepower is jeopardising the reduction in van emissions.

Second warning for UK
The UK has had its final warning from Brussels on air pollution – soon after the UK submitted a revised bid for a derogation from PM10 standards (AQB June p1).

Defra hosts websites
Defra has rationalised various air quality websites into a single portal held within Government web frames.

Cuts squeeze consultants
The UK environmental consultancy sector contracted by 3.0% in 2009, to stand at £1.36bn, says Environment Analyst.

Infrastructure planning changed again
Reassurance has been offered that planning will become more democratic following confirmation that the Infrastructure Planning Commission will be abolished.

Interim guidance on local authority schemes
Interim guidance has been issued on local authority major schemes such as roads and public transport schemes.

Ring fencing & cuts
The Government has published details of the £1.166bn local government contribution to the £6.2bn cross-government savings in 2010/11.

News from the Investigation of Air pollution standing conference

Hurley calls for air action
The Institute of Occupational Medicine’s Fintan Hurley opened last month’s Iapsc conference by outlining the case for controlling pollutants.

Air quality officers best for climate change
University of the West of England’s Simon Baldwin has been uncovering the extent that air quality officers are getting involved with climate change.

Health features in NECD revamp
Health benefits are being included in the revamp of the National Emissions Ceiling Directive.

Metals puzzle
David Fowler of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology told the Iapsc audience of progress on transboundary pollution.

Forecast accuracy improves
AEA’s annual review of its air quality forecasting operations claims a good year for forecasting accuracy in 2008, the latest year for which analysis is available.

US heart body upgrades pollution risk
The American Heart Association says the scientific evidence linking air pollution to heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular death has “substantially strengthened,” and people, particularly those at high cardiovascular risk, should limit their exposure.

Casella assisting police with their enquiries
Casella Spain has been selected by the Spanish Traffic Police to participate in a working group assessing data provided by the instruments included in a month-long trial of roadside monitoring enclosure systems (Romons) under strict motorway testing conditions.

Defra proposes model protocol
Defra has attempted to set out a protocol on how it expects models to perform.

European data judged to be okay
A European Environment Agency report sets out progress on collecting air quality data across the EU in 2008, the latest year for which data is available. Data is collected from 5,000 monitoring stations.

Nano measurement is hard!
A group of world renowned experts on nanoparticles met at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington last month to discuss measurement of nanoparticles.

Enviro Technology goes to Kent
Enviro Technology is to work with AEA to manage the service and maintenance contract for the following Kent and Medway Air Quality Network sites: a background site just outside Ashford, a site on the cliffs above Dover Port, a suburban station in Folkestone and a town centre location in Tunbridge Wells.

Tubes remain imprecise
Nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube analysis appears to be little better despite attempts to harmonise tube preparation and analysis.

Roadside diffusion tubes underestimate NO2
A large nationwide analysis of NO2 diffusion tubes suggests that roadside tubes could underestimate concentrations.

Data capture scrapes through
A report of UK monitoring performance in 2009 shows that overall performance has only just scraped past the minimum. Overall data capture of monitors was 90.4% against a target of 90% with particle monitors to blame for the problems.

Green bank prompts industry fears
The recently proposed green investment bank must not invest in carbon management projects at the expense of other environmental issues, warns the Envir-onment Industries Commission.

Environmental spending analysed
Consultant URS has analysed environmental spending by industry in 2008.

Google mapping opens up airport information
Residents and businesses located close to, or looking to relocate near Birmingham Airport can now use Google Earth to find out about its flight paths, noise insulation scheme, air quality monitoring and other environmental programmes the airport offers.

Index update The European CAQI air quality index is in the process of being updated.

Ecodriving no-no
Department for Transport (DfT) proposals to make eco-driving training a mandatory part of professional driver training have been roundly rejected by the Freight

Scottish scrappage
Scotland has launched a boiler scrappage scheme, which will give cashback to owners of older more polluting boilers.

Forecast talks
The UK air quality forecasting seminar will be held on Wednesday 14 July 2010 at The Sherfield Building, Imperial College, London.

More Openair updates
The Openair data handling routine has had further improvements.

Enviro for NE
Newcastle University is setting up the programme which will model various action plan scenarios to see what impacts can be expected at street by street level.

Nasties down
Dioxins and furans concentrations remain low, a report suggests.

Benzene stable
Benzene has met objectives in 2009, a report from the non-automatic hydrocarbon network suggests.

Legge goes independent
Sarah Legge is now working as an independent air quality consultant at SLH Environmental Ltd. She was previously head of air quality at the Greater London Authority and an ERM consultant.

AAMG meet
AAMG has set the date of its next conference in London on 14/15th December.

Industry emissions set
EEB, Europe’s largest federation of environmental citizens’ organisations, says it is disappointed by the compromise deal reached between the European Council and Parliament on the new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

US goes hourly
The US Environmental Protection Agency is setting the one-hour SO2 health standard at 75ppb.

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June 2010 issue 50

London PM10 disappears
Defra now says that the UK will meet EU PM10 targets.

New ministers appointed
The incoming Government has completed its ministerial line up.

Air quality cell gets to work
The Environment Agency’s emergency air quality team has been convened for first time since it was formed.

Guidance released for agricultural ammonia
The Environment Agency Air Quality Modelling and Assessment Unit has released guidance on modelling intensive farm emissions.

Nuisance guidance
Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government have issued guidance on how the statutory nuisance regime should be enforced at premises regulated by environmental permitting legislation.

Stalled LEZ phase 3 talks start
Transport for London (TfL) has launched a consultation on inclusion of larger vans and minibuses in the low emission zone from January 2012. Vans were to have been included from October 2010 but incoming London Mayor Boris Johnson postponed the plans.

C-charge shrinks, cleaner vehicle changes
Final consultation is taking place on the removal of the Western Extension to the central London Congestion Charge.

London campaign battles for openness
The Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) is claiming a further win in its battle to get the Government to reveal discussions with the Mayor of London.

LEZs do work, DfT is told
Apparent poor emissions performance of trucks may beg the question as to whether low emission zones are worth the bother. A new report for DfT suggests they are.

Bioaerosol warning
The Health and Safety Executive has released advice on bioaerosols from waste composting.

New trucks not so clean
A TNO report suggests modern trucks are little better in terms of real world emissions than old ones.

Air call?
The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution has invited comments on a list of topics being considered for its next major study (its 30th). The proposed topics include environmental noise and managing air pollution.

Planning changes
The incoming Coalition has published a detailed programme for Government.

Iapsc talks
Iapsc is gearing up for its June 22nd meeting.

Unitaries stopped
Restructuring of councils in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon has been scrapped.

HEI plans ahead
The US Health Effects Institute has released a new five year plan.

Mulligan moves off
Epuk chief executive Phil Mulligan is to leave the charity.

Indicator portal up
A new National Indicator information portal has been set up.

Broomfield moves
Air quality and waste incineration specialist Mark Broomfield has left Enviros to join AEA Technology.

IAQM mulls NO2
The Institute of Air Quality Management is to discuss the failure of NO2 to fall in line with expectations.

Getting serious with steelworks
The Environment Agency has blitzed the Scunthorpe steelworks leaving signs of improvements and a Corus ‘PM10 champion”

Odour guidance for councils
Advice and guidance on odour has been brought together in a new Defra guide put together by Temple Consultants

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May 2010 issue 49
Ash cloud hits the UK
Ash is not a respiratory air quality problem – but it’s left plenty to talk about finds Jack Pease (free access feature here)

Benefits underestimated
Conventional cost benefit analysis may underestimate the benefits of action on air quality, York University’s Mike Ashmore told last month’s 2010 annual UK review meeting on air pollution research held at Cranfield.

Sheffield protest
Air quality was a central plank in protesters’ successful campaign against an extension to an Asda store in Handsworth, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Epuk mulls party political promises
Epuk boss Phil Mulligan reviewed election promises in advance of the General Election (which had yet to be decided as AQB went to press).

Early ozone alert
Kings College London ERG noted an ozone air pollution incident on 10th & 11th April, the first in the year.

Heathrow runway doesn’t stack up
The New Economics Foundation think tank says that a third runway at Heathrow would not be worthwhile if wider costs such as pollution were included.

UWE courses
The University of the West of England is running several training courses on air quality and carbon management.

Micromodel gives true exposure
A micro environmental exposure model can prove accurate in estimating true exposure to pollutants, the Cranfield air pollution and research meeting was told.

Cyclists can cut their exposure
Leeds University researchers estimate that cyclists can cut their exposure by keeping away from main roads.

Obituary: Dr Nurul Leksmono
Dr Nurul Leksmono, formerly with the University of the West of England has died in a diving accident in her home country of Indonesia.

Zero air gen
Casella Monitor has introduced a cartridge-based, ZeroGen zero air generator. It removes the need for zero calibration gas cylinders when performing calibration checks on ambient air gas analyser systems.

New boss for Environ
Niall Smiddy has become Environ’s new UK boss.

Lynemouth challenge
A European Court has found that the UK has failed to properly enforce emissions legislation on the Lynemouth smelter.

News from Epuk’s air quality workshop in Rugby last month

Galey: Retrofit better than new
The Environmental Industries Commission’s Mike Galey claims that retrofit vehicle equipment cleans older vehicles to above modern vehicles standards.

….but Fuller raises issue of trust
EIC retrofit expert Mike Galey was challenged on the issue that retrofit technologies have failed to deliver the benefits that might be expected.

But does it work? asks Barratt
Kings College ERG’s Ben Barratt urged delegates at the Epuk air quality conference to show whether air quality actions are achieving anything.

More details emerge of Reading LEZ
Plans for a low emission zone in Reading were explained to the Epuk spring workshop audience last month.

Fines ‘a driver for change’
Epuk boss Phil Mulligan told the recent spring workshop that the possible EU fines for breaching air quality objectives are a “massive” driver for change.

Epuk planning guidance re-released
Environmental Protection UK has launched its updated guidance Development Control: Planning for Air Quality at the recent spring air quality workshop.

£20,000 odour fine
Preston based TEG Group has been fined £20,000 for failing to comply with an enforcement notice served to cut bad odours.

Greener transport
Greener vehicles emit less – but the rise in traffic is counteracting any benefits, the European Environment Agency claims in its latest Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM) report.

Freedom request revisited
The Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) is jointly arguing against the Government’s appeal against an order to release details including ministerial briefings on air quality relating to its January 2009 meeting with London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Finalised indicator reveals further jump
The official air quality indicator has improved even further.

Car production up
Motor traders body SMMT says car production has risen (albeit from a low base last year).

Clean ships for US
The International Maritime Organisation has agreed to set up a North American emission con

London worsening described
Kings College London ERG has released a report showing evidence of increasing pollutant levels in London.

EU in Industrial Emissions Directive tussle
Europe is being pulled both ways over the Industrial Emissions Directive.

LES seeks help
The Low Emission Strategies Partnership has £5000 funding for LES-related projects/activities in 2010.

Hydrogen plan set
London is set to create a ‘Hydrogen network’ by 2012 with the London Hydrogen Partnership (LHP) working with London boroughs and private landowners to deliver at least six refuelling sites to run hydrogen-powered vehicles in the capital over the next two years.

London: a closer look
Last month a lot of policies were published as part of the pre-election clear-out and we were unable to do justice to the London strategy. Now we take a closer look...

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April 2010 issue 48

Tightened plan for London
London mayor Boris Johnson has launched a public draft of his air quality strategy.

Reactions to the updated London strategy
Simon Birkett of the Campaign for Clean Air in London welcomed recognition of worsened health impacts.

Magical savings
Improvements in manmade PM2.5 concentrations have led to improved the average life expectancy of people living in the UK from 7-8 months to six months in the three years to 2008.

Amec takes Entec Construction firm Amec has taken over consultancy Entec for £61m.

Reading bids for truck LEZ
Reading Borough Council is seeking Transport Innovation Funding for a low emission zone targeting trucks and buses.

Low emission zone advice on standards
With continued news emerging that newer technology trucks (including Euro V) are not delivering the savings as promised, there are concerns that low emission zones may be pointless.

Defra chooses Enviro Technology for new kit
Enviro Technology has won a contract with Defra for 28 continuous gas analysers and six monitoring enclosures for the UK’s AURN (Automatic Urban and Rural Network).

COPD consultation
The Department of Health is consulting on COPD strategies.

Ozone low in 2009
The European Environment Agency reports ozone levels in Europe during summer 2009 were among the lowest since comprehensive data reporting started in 1997.

Electric plans
TfL is advertising contracts to procure 1,000 electric vehicles for the Greater London Authority fleet and 8,500 charging points, together worth more than £70m.

Care4Air competition
South Yorkshire based entrants are sought for Care4Air’s awards which recognise individuals and organisations making a significant difference in improving air quality.

CIL and s106 regime clarified
Regulations have been set for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Air pollution warning system
An alert system to warn people with serious respiratory problems when there is the likelihood of significant air pollution is being launched in Liverpool.

Heathrow knocked by High Court challenge
London councils and pressure groups have won a Judicial Review on the legality of plans to expand Heathrow.

PAH exceedences
Monitoring of UK PAH levels has found revealed seven sites (out of 31) that exceed the EU limit value of 1 ng/m3.

ERG in Leicester
The Environmental Research Group (ERG) at King’s College London has launched a new air quality website for Leicester City Council.

Iphone app tops 5,000 users
An Iphone app created by Kings College London ERG has 5,315 active users in the two weeks since its launch.

Budget. Cuts cuts cuts
Defra says it will deliver £194 million of savings, as its departmental contribution towards £11bn savings that are being made across Government.

UK challenged on cost of challenges
The European Commission has warned UK about unfair cost of challenging decisions on the environment.

Toxic struggle
The toxic monitoring network is struggling to monitor pollutants at low levels.
Bam bolt-on A bolt on for the Bam allows access to real-time particulate data.

LAQM survives review
Jack Pease is pleasantly surprised at the rigour and findings of the Government review of the Local Air Quality Management regime

UK should be ‘ashamed’
As expected, the MPs on the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee have laid into the Government’s record on air quality – going much further than the review of LAQM (see previous pages)

Climate action helps air
A report suggests tackling climate change could justify significant action on air quality and raises interesting new information on cost benefit analysis. Jack Pease reviews it

March 2010 issue 47

Deaths: 35,000. 59,000?
Air quality minister Jim Fitzpatrick has accepted that air quality could kill up to 35,000 people in the UK every year.

Renewables to come with dirtier boilers
The proposed renewable heat incentive will include biomass boilers dirtier than originally proposed (AQB August 2009 p6).

Sikh wins open cremation appeal
A Sikh has won a long running legal battle giving him the right to have an open cremation. However there is still much to be agreed.

Heathrow in new legal battle
Councils and pressure groups have joined forces to challenge the decision to expand Heathrow Airport.

Community Infrastructure Levy regs laid
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) regulations have been laid before Parliament and will shortly become law.

ClearFlo: ERG is not clearing blocked drains
King’s College London’s ERG is a leading partner in a £2.8 million research project on traffic and health issues in London.

London moderate
Despite wet and windy weather, London suffered a moderate pollution incident on 18th February.

Electric boost
A consortium led by TfL that includes Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Siemens, Nissan and Hertz intends to install 7,500 electric car charging points across London by 2013 as part of a £17m plan.

Top ten
ERG’s air quality Iphone app has appeared in a Guardian newspaper top ten list.

Sustainable thoughts
Sustainable travel initiatives can play a key role in reducing carbon emissions for transport as well as contributing to a wide range of local priorities.

Ian McCrae: tributes pour in
TRL vehicle emissions expert Ian McCrae died suddenly last month.

MPs hear low emission zone defence
MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee have quizzed a string of witnesses as part of their ongoing inquiry into air quality (AQB February p8).

More unitaries
The Government has announced unitary proposals for Exeter, Norwich, Ipswich, Norfolk, Devon and Suffolk.

Air data updated
More results have been published based on the 2008 National Atmospheric Emission Inventory (earlier results were released two months ago (AQB January p3)).

Toolkit revision
A revised version of the emission factor toolkit (EFT) has been issued.

Monitoring performance drops
A quarterly report on monitoring performance suggests that AURN monitors are still causing problems.

National Policy Statements appear weak
Epuk has warned that the first round of draft National Policy Statements are inconsistent and offer weak protection for the local environment. The Royal Town Planning Institute claims they are not fit for purpose.

HEI releases ‘most comprehensive’ review
The US Health Effects Institute has released “the most comprehensive and systemic” review to date on traffic related air pollution.

Joint action
A report discussing how the United Kingdom can save £24 billion through measures which jointly help prevent air pollution and climate change was released as AQB went to press

Boiler warning
The South Yorkshire Care4Air partnership is raising awareness in Sheffield to warn people who own or want to purchase a wood burning stove to not unwittingly break the law.

W4B rejected
A large biomass plant near Bristol has been turned down.

Planning guidelines updated
Epuk is consulting on updates to its popular planning and air quality guidelines

Martin Williams: exit interview
Jack Pease talks to Martin Williams, the scientist who has been at the helm of UK air quality policy for nearly a decade

MPs’ scrutiny continues
MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee continue their investigation into air quality. Last month we reviewed some of the written evidence, now we dip into some of the spoken evidence

February 2010 issue 46

Bad urban days nosedive
Urban air quality showed a dramatic improvement in 2009 according to the official Government air quality indicator.

US adopts hourly NO2 target, ozone updated
The US Environmental Protection Agency has adopted an hourly NO2 standard for the first time. Ozone is also being slightly toughened.

2010 NO2 breached
London air quality campaigner Simon Birkett has slammed the Government over its air quality record highlighting breaches of the 2010 NO2 objectives just weeks into the year.

Background levels changes
Updated background pollution maps have been released which show increases and decreases in concentrations across the country.

LAQM modelling tools updated
UWE has announced a number of changes have recently been made to LAQM tools available on helpdesk websites.

Heathrow conditions unfit
A report by the London Assembly has examined the environmental conditions placed on Heathrow Airport as a condition for expansion. It wants a “fundamental change” to the conditions describing them as “not fit for purpose”.

Enviro Technology clinches mobile lab deal
The Environment Agency-chaired Air Quality Cell, set up to provide a multi-agency response to major air quality incidents, will use mobile monitoring units from Enviro Technology.

Online pollution guide from Epuk
Epuk has launched an online version of its pollution control handbook.

Road benefits overestimated, says group
The claimed benefits of new roads don’t work out in practice and some roads actually create new problems, according to research for the Highways Agency unearthed by the Campaign for Better Transport.

Cornwall gives a poke to the eye
Cornwall air quality experts have questioned the accuracy of the European Environment Agency’s Eye on the Earth website.

Charge blamed for more NO2 ...
Air pollution impacts of the London congestion charge have been studied – with unexpected consequences.

... but improves air in Stockholm
Road pricing policies in Stockholm, in contrast to the findings of above study on the London congestion charge, appear show a traffic cordon charge has improved concentrations and reduced the health burden.

NW councils tackle construction emissions
Manchester area councils are joining together to agree policies on reducing construction site emissions.

Guidance on cutting emissions
New guidance to help local authorities reduce emissions and improve air quality has been published.

Bus partnership begins in Barnsley
South Yorks Care4Air partner Barnsley has inaugurated a new bus quality partnership that aims to reduce emissions by encouraging purchase of new buses.

Regional champions chosen
The Low Emission Strategies Partnership has selected three regional groups to work with during 2010. Sussex, Liverpool City Region and Leeds City Region have been chosen following a competition launched last year

MP’s told about air
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is currently scrutinising evidence as part of its inquiry into air quality. It has commissioned the National Audit Office to do a mini review of air quality – and invited organisations for their comments

Different ways to cut emissions
Defra has released a report – following a freedom of information request – on how it cut NOX emissions to comply with the NEC directive. Enforcing the motorway speed limit comes out as a top option.

Tender call
The Sussex Air Quality Partnership is inviting tenders for the contract to manage the Sussex Air Quality Network (Sussex Air Quality Network Data Management Contract (2010-2014)
l Nigel Jenkins (email: nigel.jenkins@lewes.gov.uk

Agency given civil powers
The Environment Agency has become one of the first organisations to be granted new civil powers to complement existing regulatory powers. It says this will mean fairer and more effective environmental regulation.

Cement guidance
The Environment Agency has released a consultation on sector guidance notes on best available techniques for cement works.

Climate boost to AQ policy benefits
If the effects of air pollution on climate change are included in air quality strategies, efficiency gains of £2bn can be achieved across the EU, according to recent research.

Research static
Defra has set out its research priorities for the forthcoming three years. Air quality is set as a ‘continuing’ need. Noise is categorised as a decreasing need, while climate change, soils and other sectors are classed within ‘growing evidence needs’.

Rugby costs
The Environment Agency is continuing its court battle with Rugby cement protester Lillian Pallikaropoulos over costs.
Road sweeping for
Rochford Rochford District Council is to declare its first air quality management area due to dust from an industrial estate.

Chatterton at DECC
University of West of England’s Tim Chatterton is to take up a placement with the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Planning meeting
Sussex Air Quality Partnership is running a seminar Planning for better air on 5th March.

NPL Nano-meet
NPL is organising a conference on nanoparticles.

RSK hits the web
Consultant RSK is dipping its toes into web publishing with the purchase of an online green car guide.

Regions consult
Wales and Scotland are consulting on regulations to enact the new air quality directive. England consulted last year (AQB December p9).

£2m contract
The European Environment Agency is seeking a consortium to form a £2m framework partnership agreement on the European Topic Centre on Air pollution and climate change mitigation 2011-2013.

Scottish blackspots
Audit Scotland has released a report on the Scottish Environment which notes poor air quality in 12 areas.

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January 2010 issue 45

Time extension vetoed
The UK has been told that it cannot have an extension to deadlines to clean up PM10 in London. Mayor Boris Johnson’s sudden dilution of his air quality strategy may be to blame.
l Commission time extensions’ website http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm

Monks to lead Aqeg
Professor Paul Monks is the new chair of the Air Quality Expert Group (Aqeg) taking over from Mike Pilling who has retired.

NAO report released
The National Audit Office report into air quality was released as AQB went to press.
l Full report next month.

King’s tools up for a policy battle?
King’s College London ERG is setting up a science policy unit.

Deal for dodgy dryers?
The RSC AAMG particle monitoring conference held in London last month heard tales of failing FDMS monitors on mainland Europe. Few UK monitors are affected.
l www.airmonitors.co.uk

Craggs in surprise move to Air Monitors
Colin Craggs, formerly ambient monitor sales boss at Thermo, has joining Jim Mills at Air Monitors.

Sniffer lets study on air quality
Sniffer, the northern UK grouping, is letting a study on air quality.
l www.sniffer.org.uk

Cell plans to deal with fires
Air quality ‘cells’ are proposed to deal with emergency fires following lessons learned at Buncefield
l More information contact Damian Thomson, email dam ian.thomson@environment-agency.gov.uk tel: 01454 2055788

Defra reveals USA laggards
Nearly 50 authorities have yet to submit their updating and screening assessments due in spring 2009.

Encyclopedia out
Air pollution in the UK 2008 has been released.
l It can be downloaded from www.airquality.co.uk/annualreport

AQB ‘yardstick’: slight improvement for 2009
The Air Quality Bulletin ‘yardstick’ (the green line) is a rough and ready measure aimed at providing a quick summary of national air pollution soon after the New Year and some weeks before official figures can be produced.

AURN does the job
A report by AEA claims that the Automatic Urban and Rural Monitoring Network (AURN) is good enough for the national and international monitoring requirements.
l QA/QC procedures for the UK automatic urban and rural air quality monitoring network (AURN) can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/reports

Swiss Cottage speciation results
King’s College London’ ERG has studied the make up of particle pollution at Swiss Cottage for the London Borough of Camden
l Chemical speciation of PM10 at Swiss Cottage, David Green et al, can be viewed on www.londonair.org.uk

ERG team build new monitoring station
Father Christmas has clearly been down ERG’s chimney and left some Lego bricks for the boys to play with.

Factors miss actual emissions
Emission factors in common use tend to underestimate real world emissions – for instance by underestimating acceleration of modern drivers.
l All the reports are available from the TRL library tel 01344 328038

Care4Air: another gong
The South Yorkshire Care4Air team has recently been awarded a Gold Green Apple Award for local authority environmental best practice – the top award for city councils across the UK.

IAQM on Emaq
The Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) has formally accredited a training course on the essentials of pollution prevention and control being offered as part of the EMAQ+ package run by AEAT and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).

Parliament told of national biomass impacts
Parliament has been told the health impact of a shift towards biomass boilers required in the Government’s renewable energy strategy.

Ellesmere scoops recognition award
The Ellesmere Port and Neston Air Quality Forum has received a North West Public Health Award for its partnership, communication and air quality management.

CPD opportunities from UWE
University of the West of England (UWE) is offering Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for air quality and carbon management.
l More details contact Jo Barnes, UWE www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/training.html

NI air listed
Air quality in Northern Ireland in 2008 has been summarised in a new report.
l Air pollution in Northern Ireland – 2008 www.airqualityni.co.uk/documents

Places judged
For the first time all public services to be held to account in Oneplace says the Government.
l website http://oneplace.direct.gov.uk

Pre budget report
Few new announcements were contained in the Pre-Budget Report. Emissions down 2008 results from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) suggest UK emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia have fallen between 2007 and 2008, with decreases of 5% ammonia, 7% for NMVOCs, 10% for NOx, and 14% for SO2.
l National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory for 1970-2008 can be viewed on www.naei.org.uk

European LEZs
The pan-European low emission zone website www.lowemissionzones.eu now has EU support and part funding.
l www.lowemissionzones.eu

Planning conditions shake up outlined
A consultation on planning conditions is one of three planning consultations launched last month by DCLG.
l Improving the use and discharge of planning conditions: Consultation can be viewed on www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1419816.pdf

HPA changes
HPA’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (Comeap) secretariat Heather Walton is to leave at the end of March. HPA is advertising for her replacement.
l www.hpa.org.uk/careers

Science guidance
BIS is consulting on the way in which government departments obtain and use science and engineering advice.
l Guidelines on scientific analysis in policy making – a consultation can be viewed on www.berr.gov.uk/files/file53585.pdf

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December 2009 issue 44

Air impacts are large
A high level Government report points out that air pollution costs rank alongside congestion, traffic accidents and obesity.
l The Cabinet Office report The wider costs of transport in English urban areas in 2009 can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/policy/urbantransport

Assembly to scrutinise Heathrow condition
The London Assembly is to scrutinise environmental conditions on possible expansion at Heathrow airport to see if they are sufficient to deal with concerns about noise, air quality and climate change.
l The meeting can also be viewed via webcast at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/webcasts.jsp

Defra told to open up
Air quality campaigner Simon Birkett is “jubilant” that Defra has been ordered to reveal emails on discussions between itself and the London Mayor. As AQB went to press, however, Defra looks set to appeal the decision.

UK and other dirty states await fate
A decision from Europe on whether the UK will be granted an extension to PM10 objectives is imminent.

Disquiet on London strategy
Responses are trickling in to the London Mayor’s draft air quality strategy. The watered-down strategy was released for limited consultation last month (AQB November p8).

RSC to air concerns about compliance
As the EU legislation covering air quality starts to bite, many problems with compliance are emerging, claims ERG’s Gary Fuller.
l The conference will take place on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th December 2009. www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/news.asp?NewsId=AAMGMeeting

Fines to be shared with councils?
Environment minister Jim Fitzpatrick has given a veiled warning that councils who fail to take their air quality duties seriously may share EU fines.

Transboundary report up for consultation
Experts have undertaken a review of transboundary air pollution. ” l A review of acidification, eutrophication, heavy metals and ground-level ozone in the UK www.rotap.ceh.ac.uk

Epuk air update conference held in Birmingham last month

NOx and NO2 off the rails?
Leeds University’s David Carslaw warned Epuk’s conference held in Birmingham last month that official NOX and NO2 projections may be “pretty optimistic”.

Is NO2 falling as was predicted by guidance?
Developing the argument raised by Bristol’s Steve Crawshaw (see above), ERG’s Gary Fuller has kindly prepared this graph for AQB. It shows actual NO2 measurements in London between 2000 and 2008, and the predictions made in 2003 technical guidance. The gap between predicted and actual is clear. Defra and local authorities are supposed to plan ahead based on these projections.

Five chosen as good examples
Five local authorities have been chosen as good examples of air quality action planning.

Nitrogen dioxide is no problem, says Ayres
Comeap chairman Jon Ayres claims that he remains unconvinced that nitrogen dioxide is a significant health problem.

Berlin LEZ achieves pollution drop
Berlin has achieved a 5-10% reduction in pollution in the city as a result of its tough low emission zone. Unlike London, the zone controls cars as well as commercial vehicles.

NO2 no problem?
Comeap still cannot find a problem with NO2.
l Statement on the quantification of the effects of long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide on respiratory morbidity in children can be viewed on www.dh.gov.uk/ab/comeap/index.htm

Defra ponders LAQM review
Defra will shortly reveal feedback from local authorities gleaned as part of its recent LAQM review.

DMUG told of DMRB traffic data woes
MNA Advisory’s Matt Ireland raised concerns about proposed revisions to the DMRB air quality screening model.

Exposure assessed for London population
AEA’s John Stedman told the Dispersion Model Users Group (DMUG) meeting held in London about a recent study looking at the effect of commuting on exposure.

Monitor help
Monitor specialist Phil Jones is still here!
l phil.jones@aqdata.co.uk

Pocket facts
The thirteenth edition of The environment in your pocket annual publication is out. It is a handy, free of charge, pocket-sized distillation of around 60 key data series including air quality indicators.
l The environment in your pocket 2009 can be downloaded from www.defra.gov.uk/evidence/statistics/environment/eiyp

Steelworks: yet another study
The UK’s largest industrial PM10 -prompted air quality management area near Port Talbot steelworks has been the subject of another report.
l An independent review of monitoring measures undertaken in Neath Port Talbot in respect of particulate matter (PM10) can be viewed on http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/airqualitypollution/southwaleszone/porttalbotpm10/?lang=eng

Dust problem prompts legal challenge
Lacors reports on a case that has tested the definition of ‘summary proceedings’ in the courts.
l www.lacors.gov.uk

Scotland goes mobile
Scottish air quality is now available on a mobile. l www.scottishairquality. co.uk/mobile Bonfire night dissected AEA has released a report describing bonfire night in 2007. l Air pollution forecasting report: Bonfire night 2007 can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/reports

Mark moves on
Sheffield air quality boss Mark Daly is moving jobs. Daly, front man for South Yorkshire’s Care4Air campaign and previous winner of the AQB ‘bottom’ award, is moving to climate change within the council.

Mcerts for Turnkey
Turnkey Instruments has been awarded Mcerts certification for two of its particulate monitors.
l www.turnkey-instruments.com

Low emission office
Government has launched the cross-Whitehall Office for Low Emission Vehicles.
l website www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/olev/

Kaizen box from SupportingU
Monitor support firm SupportingU has launched its new monitor housing which it has named the Kaizen.
l www.supportingu.co.uk

Cleantech showcased
Rushlight Award entrants and other firms are exhibiting at a Clean Technologies conference in London on 28th January. Rushlight Awards will be announced at a gala dinner with various clean tech categories including air pollution.
l www.rushlightawards.co.uk

Register goes live
The European Commission and the European Environment Agency has launched a comprehensive new European pollutant release and transfer register – E-PRTR.
l The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register can be viewed on http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/

ET goes to Uni
Air quality monitoring specialist Enviro Technology and the University of Leeds’ Institute of Transport Studies are collaborating to provide bespoke vehicle emissions monitoring for councils.
l www.et.co.uk.

Care4air educates
South Yorkshire’s Care4Air website is being used to teach secondary school pupils across the UK after being endorsed by the National Curriculum Twenty First Century Science project on their website
l www.care4air.org & www.21stcenturyscience.org

IAQM on planning significance
The Institute of Air Quality Management has tried to reach a consensus on the issue of air quality significance

Watch out for new regs
Defra will forgo £684m of health benefits for the UK population by adopting the EU directive. And this is progress, asks Jack Pease?
l Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010: Consultation on the transposition of Directive 2008/50/EC, and supporting documents, www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ consult/airquality-transposition

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November 2009 issue 43

NO2 getting worse
Official modelling of UK air quality in 2008 suggests that just three zones comply with the European NO2 annual mean objective.
l 2008 data can be viewed on http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/gb/eu/annualair

Biomass go ahead
The Environment Agency has granted a permit for Europe’s largest biomass plant to be built in Port Talbot – near the UK’s worst industrially-prompted air quality management area.

Inquiry launched The Commons Environmental Audit Committee is launching a new inquiry into air quality. l www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/environmental_audit_committee/eacpn211009.cfm

Hunt for regional supergroups ...
The Low Emission Strategies Partnership, formed from the ashes of the Beacon initiative, is launching a Regional Groups Initiative. This will provide funding and support for participating organisations to develop and implement low emission strategies.

... and for developer of low emission toolkit
The LES Partnership is inviting tenders to develop a Low Emission Toolkit to assist local authorities in identifying the range of low emission strategies available and in assessing the costs and benefits of pursuing them (AQB October p4).
l Contact John Paterson via email on John.Paterson @greenwich.gov.uk

EU set to miss 2010 air pollutant limits
Updated emission estimates for 2010 show just 14 member states expect to meet their respective 2010 air pollutant limits set under the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive).
l NEC Directive Status Report can be viewed on www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/europe-set-to-miss-2010-air-pollutant-limits

Defra reviews LAQM process
Local authorities are being polled for their views on the local air quality management process.

The future is polar
Polar plots are likely to grow in popularity. This was the message of a recent academic workshop held in London.
l Openair: http://airtrack.lancs.ac.uk
l Airtrack: www.openair-project.org/examples.php

Crime is in the air, say lawyers
A new report – part of a What is crime? series – analyses air pollution in the UK.
l Crime is in the air: air pollution and regulation in the UK can be viewed on www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/crimeisintheair.html

Consultant Enviros sold to SKM for £27m
Consultant Enviros has been sold to Australian consultant Sinclair Knight Merz.

Air Monitors mulls Thermo deal
Last month as AQB went to press, Teom-maker Thermo announced that it was pulling out of UK direct sales of ambient air quality monitors. .
l www.airmonitors.co.uk

Camden polls the public on vehicles
Camden has commissioned a public attitudes study to gauge reactions to alternative fuelled vehicles.
l Camden AFV Survey 2009 consumer attitudes towards alternatively fuelled vehicles is available through Gloria. Esposito@camden.gov.uk

Consultation on permit charge increases
Proposed charges for permits are being consulted on.
l The Defra charges consultation can be found on www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/localauth-plantfees10-11/index.htm

Renewed call for Olympics trap fitment
The Environmental Industries Commission has renewed its call for Olympics construction work to follow the Best practice guidance on the control of dust and emissions from construction and demolition.

H1 revision
The Environment Agency is consulting on revisions to the March 2008 version of the H1 guidance to include activities being brought in under the Environmental Permitting Regulations in 2010.
l www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/consultations/111412.aspx

Smells ‘nauseating’
Operators of Caythorpe composting centre in Lincolnshire have been fined £2,000 and ordered to pay full Environment Agency costs of £2,965 for breaching odour conditions.

VOC agreement
The European Council has adopted the directive clamping down on petrol vapour emissions from service stations. The new act obliges most filling stations to install equipment recovering VOCs released when refuelling cars and other vehicles.
l www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/envir/110297.pdf

Bias adjusted
The NO2 diffusion tube bias adjustment factor spreadsheet has just been updated from the 05/09 version. The new spreadsheet (v. 09/09) may be downloaded from the Review and Assessment website.
l www.uwe.ac.uk/ aqm/review

Craggs off
The decision by Thermo to pull out of direct UK sales will lead to the departure of Colin Craggs.
l Colin Craggs email cc41env@aol.com

Gases compared
The London Borough of Camden has compared the real life performance of two vans, one running on natural gas and the other on biomethane.
l More details email Gloria. Esposito@camden.gov.uk

Greenery in London
Planting trees in a 10km by 10km area in East London might save two premature deaths a year and two hospital admissions due to reduced PM10 levels.
l An integrated tool to assess the role of new planting in PM10 capture and the human health benefits, Abhishek Tiwary et al, Environmental Pollution, Vol. 157 (2009), pp2645-2653.

Milking the planning system
With funding tighter than ever, will recent changes in the planning system – especially the Community Infrastructure Levy – provide a way forward for funding air quality action?

Making use of supplementary planning documents
Mid Devon’s Simon Newcombe is the most recent evangelist keen to spread the word that the planning system can be used to aid air quality.

Pollutants down
The 2007 update to the UK pollutant inventory has been released. It shows emissions of all main pollutants dropped between 2007 and the previous year.
l  Air quality pollutant inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990 – 2007 can be viewed on www.naei.org.uk

London in Europe
Measurements from the London Air Quality Network are now appearing on the EU-sponsored Air Quality in Europe web site established as part of the CITEAIR project.
l www.airqualitynow.eu

Black smoke compared
NPL has released results from black smoke monitoring in 2008.
l 2008 annual report for the UK black smoke network can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports

London proposals fail to please
A draft air quality strategy released by the London Mayor looks impressive until you scratch the surface finds Jack Pease

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October 2009 issue 42

Why not try out the AQ Facebook page?

Air quality tested in court
A West Country council has taken the Government to court on air quality – and won.
l Mid Devon v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Reliant Building Contractors Ltd, High Court claim no CO/1557/2009.

Thermo packs in
In a shock announcement, Thermo is pulling out of direct sales of Teom’s and other ambient monitoring kit in the UK market.

Aussie smog echoes London 1950s event
A huge dust storm has enveloped eastern Australia bringing record PM10 levels.
l www.environment.nsw.gov.au/AQMS/aqialerts.htm

Defra pushed
Air quality campaigner Simon Birkett is increasing pressure on Defra and the London Mayor about what they intend to do on air quality.
l www.cleanairinlondon.org

Deaths five times higher?
Exhaustive analysis by air quality campaigner Simon Birkett has shown that London deaths due to air quality are far higher than previously thought.

Equal ops supplement to PM10 demand
Air pollution disproportionately affects the poor, the UK government admits in its request for an extension to EU PM10 deadlines.

East London dust leads to large fine
A firm that was making concrete without a licence has been ordered to pay more than £11,000 in fines and costs.

Website review: missing links?
Our website review last month inevitably prompted some feedback where we have missed website features.

News from the Care4air / low emission strategy conference in Sheffield last month

£400,000 boost for low emissions
The Low Emission Strategy initiative, born out of the air quality Beacon scheme, has won £400,000 in funding.

Vaughan’s leap of faith
Defra’s Robert Vaughan once again presented modelling trends that assume a big drop in concentrations of key pollutants. Some consider these assumptions optimistic.

Toolkit proposed
John Patterson of Greenwich outlined plans for a Low Emissions Strategy group toolkit to assess benefits of air quality policies that might be contained in planning conditions..

The minister speaks
Ministers rarely say much of interest, but seeing as it’s been so long since a minister made an effort on air quality, we give air quality minister Jim Fitzpatrick, who made it up to the Care4air/LES conference in Sheffield, some space...

Air pollution summit
Air quality minister Jim Fitzpatrick announced there is to be an air quality ‘summit’ later this year.

Low emission office
Cenex’s Andrew Whittles revealed that low emission vehicles are to be coordinated through an Office of Low Emission Vehicles, an agency which is currently being set up.

The fall and rise of NO2
Experts at Ciwem question whether the NO2 problem is being underestimated

CIWEM speaks out on NO2
The Chartered Institute of Waste and Environmental Management has produced a ‘position statement’ on the problem of NO2. It warns that the scale of NO2 may be underestimated in ‘forgotten’ towns.

Biomass: a new dawn?
Last month Epuk brought experts together to discuss the air quality impacts of biomass – are both sides any closer together?

PAH high
Levels of PAH in the UK are set out in a new report based on monitored 2007 concentrations.
l Annual report for 2007 on the UK PAH monitoring and analysis network can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

Zones for London
London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced the setting up of 10 low carbon zones in the capital.

Incineration: Safe?....
Incineration is hitting the headlines again, so it’s time to wheel out another reassuring expert report

BB takes PB
UK construction group Balfour Beatty has taken over US-based consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff.

More Teom time
Thermo has given Teoms a stay of execution.
l www.thermo.com/aqi

Magistrates’ sentencing
A revised version of the Magistrates’ guidance Costing the Earth has been released.
l www.magistrates-association.org.uk/Earth

Planning Act guidance
A number of guidance documents have been published as part of the 2008 Planning Act shake up.
l Planning Act 2008: Guidance on pre-application consultation and other guidance www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/planningpolicyimplementation/reformplanningsystem/planningbill/

VCM changes
There have been two recent changes made to improve the data capture of the corrected Teom particle measurements.
l www.volatile-correction-model.info

AURN sites fail
Eight automatic urban and rural network (AURN) monitoring sites do not meet European directive criteria and will need to be closed or relocated.
l Automatic urban & rural network: assessment of siting criteria can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/list.php

New man at Defra
Former waste strategy guru Daniel Instone is joining Defra to look after air quality and other environment issues.

NAO probe
The National Audit Office is currently carrying out a probe into air quality policy.

Pyrolysis questioned
A review claims that gasification, pyrolysis and plasma incinerators provide little or no benefit when compared to mass burn incinerators.
l An industry blowing smoke www.toxicsaction.org/BlowingSmokeReport.pdf

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September 2009 issue 41

Strategies cut store emissions
Mid Devon District Council has been using low emission strategies in partnership with supermarket firm Tesco to produce a new ‘Eco Store’ and help improve local air quality.
l www.lowemissionstrategies.org

Defra fiddles with forecast bandings
Bandings for describing PM10 impacts have been changed to reflect the move away from Teom measurements.
l More details: www.airquality.co.uk/news/revised_pm10_air_quality_index_for_reference_equivalent_data_ver_2.pdf

Some get extension
The European Commission has released decisions on nine applications from member states for an extension to PM10 standards.
l More details on the Commission time extension website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm

Catch for NOx-eating coatings?
NOX eating coatings may produce a harmful gas, researchers suggest.
l More details on www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/news/2009/august/11080902.asp

Biofuel ban urged by Lacors
Lacors (Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services) is calling for a ban on the most highly polluting biofuels and promotion of the cleanest options.
l www.lacors.gov.uk

Review and assessment FAQs updated
Frequently asked questions have been posted to the review and assessment helpdesk website:
l FAQs are available on www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review/mquestions.html

Public enlisted for survey
A national air survey is being launched on 29th September as part of the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) project supported by bodies such as the Environment Agency.
l A free survey pack, which includes a guide and workbook, can be downloaded from www.opalexplorenature.org

Toxics tagged in inventory update
A review of the sources of dioxins, furans, PCBs and hexachlorobenzene to air land and water has been undertaken by AEA.
l Review and update of the UK source inventories of dioxins, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene for emissions to air, water and land www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/dioxins-strategygroup.htm

Agency tots up accidental fire emissions
An Environment Agency report attempts to predict emission from fire incidents leading to air pollution. There were over 450 in 2006-07.
l Review of emission factors for incident fires can be seen on http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO0809BQUT-e-e.pdf

Top winners out
Defra has revealed air quality grant winners for the current financial year. Over 100 English councils shared grant worth a total of £2.4m – unchanged on last year. The Corporation of London won the most (£141,000) while Chelmsford won the least (£1000).

Quality websites wane
For the first time, our annual review of air quality websites finds that standards are starting to slip

Incentives offered
Casella is offering customers an incentive to upgrade their monitoring instrumentation.
l website www.casellameasurement.com

Particulates studied
Birmingham researchers have concluded that measurements and estimations of emission factors based on the PARTICULATES database are in good agreement.

Pledge wins bike
A York school pupil has won a bicycle as the result of a series of air quality talks and pledges made at schools throughout the city.
l www.jorair.co.uk

US ship clean up
All ocean-going vessels within 24 nautical miles of California’s coastline must now use cleaner burning diesel fuel in order to comply with a new state regulation aimed at reducing SO2, NOx and particle emissions.

Engine off urges Epuk
Epuk urged bank holiday drivers to turn their engines off when stuck in traffic jams.

Burner approved
A 95MW 600,000 tonnes—per-year waste incinerator has been approved at Ince in Cheshire.
l www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/decisionsplanning

Rushlight expands
The annual Rushlight Awards scheme for clean technologies (closing date October 31st) is being augmented by an exhibition.
l www.rushlightawards.co.uk

Electric car consult
DfT has published a consultation paper on an electric vehicle consumer incentive and infrastructure support package.
l It can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/ulcvnextsteps

NE courses planned
Newcastle University has recently introduced an air pollution course developed and run by Anil Namdeo, previously of Leeds University.
l www.ncl.ac.uk/cegs.cpd/cpd/airpoll.php

Comeap changes
Comeap has two new members and reappointed one ex-member to the committee. They are Dr Richard Atkinson, Professor David Newby and Professor H Ross Anderson.

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August 2009 news

Corby: dust is blamed
The High Court has decided that dust kicked up during a landfill could have caused birth defects. More next month.

Lawyers hover: legal challenge draws closer
Environmental lawyers are close to launching a legal challenge to poor air quality in the UK.
l www.clientearth.org

Commission rejects derogation requests
The European Commission has given decisions on PM10 time extension notifications for nine EU countries – Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, Hungary and the Slovak Republic.
l Time extension website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm

Colin McMullen
Colin McMullen, a member of Defra’s air quality team, has died following a long battle with cancer.

New monitor on the block
Another particle monitor has won official approval.
l www.fai-instruments.it

Data directive progress outlined
Mouchel is working to link up Inspire data services with the Cafe Directive.
l For more information on the Slovakia interim findings, go to: http://www.gsdi.org/gsdi11/prog_details.html#Anchor-Parallel-30198

Final LTp guidance is released
Statutory guidance on local transport plans has been released following a consultation (AQB March p1).
l The guidance can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/adobepdf/165237/ltpguidance.pdf

News from the annual forecasting conference last month

New forecasting forum launched
AEA has won a new three year air quality forecasting contract for Defra. It is setting up a specialist forum in a bid to improve air quality forecasting.

SussexAir seeks research funding
The SussexAir airAlert service is keen to carry out research to see if it can provide a more targeted cost effective service.
l www.airalert.info

Heatwave SO2 peak
Last month’s warm weather has led to a number of sulphur dioxide events affecting London, Kent and further north into Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, claims ERG, which provides monitoring services in south east England.

Finalised 2008 air quality indicator released
The 2008 government air quality indicator has been finalised.

ERG reports on London bad air
Nitrogen dioxide and particles continue to pollute London’s air – but King’s College ERG warns that the health consequences of increasing background ozone concentrations in the UK and across Europe being worse than existing particle impacts.
l The fourteenth annual report of the London Air Quality Network (LAQN) can be viewed on www.erg.kcl.ac.uk

The annual Air quality bulletin consultancy rankings
AQB repeats its popular rankings and snapshot market analysis of the air quality market

Defra sets out ‘fair’ enforcement
Defra and the Welsh Government are consulting on changes to environmental enforcement policy.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/env-enforcement

Biomass strategy recognises AQ impacts
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has released a biomass strategy which reflects fears that increased wood burning in urban areas could lead to air quality problems.
l The renewable energy strategy can be viewed on www.decc.gov.uk

PM rankings
European countries have been ranked in terms of population weighted exposure to PM2.5.
l http://air-climate.eionet.europa.eu/docs/ETCACC_TP_2009_1_European_PM2.5_HIA.pdf

Emission factors changed at last
For some years, air quality modellers have questioned whether emission factors are right. Now they’ve got some new ones, finds Jack Pease

H4 on odour wafts in
Draft guidance on odour released in 2002 was never finalised. Will the latest draft fare any better asks Jack Pease?

Low carbon strategy
Government has released its low carbon strategy.
l Low carbon transport: A greener future can be viewed on www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/carbonreduction/

Bus fillip
A £30 million fund has been set up by the Government to encourage the purchase of low carbon buses.

London strategy delay
 The London air quality strategy revamp has been delayed. Ozone remains high A European Environment Agency report attempts to explain why ozone is failing to drop despite success in cutting emissions.
l Technical report No 7/2009 www.eea.europa.eu

Electrification boost
The proposed £1.1bn electrification of the Paddington-Swansea rail line will reduce air pollution especially for some areas alongside the Great Western main lines that are vulnerable to pollution.

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July 2009 news

Potter proposes planning tool
Croydon’s Stephen Potter has revealed a new planning tool that could avoid arguments over significance.

AEA makes London air suggestions
AEA has submitted a series of recommendations to the GLA in a bid to influence the ongoing revamp of the London air quality strategy.

Tweeting on air
As temperatures climbed into the 30’s and moderate pollution levels forecast, King’s College London has launched a new service which provides real time air quality updates and summaries on Twitter. Last month the group launched an Iphone app for air quality
l More details can be found at www.londonair.org.uk

News from last month’s investigation of air pollution standing conference meeting held in Sheffield

Oxford finally cracks bus woes
Oxford City Council’s Roger Pitman told the Iapsc conference in Sheffield of the long running battle between the city council (which has the air quality responsibilities) and the county council (which has the transport responsibilities).

NOx eating paint leads to huge drop
Rebecca Pointon of Cheshire East revealed new data on trials of Ecopurer NOx-eating coatings in Congleton. The busy A34 sees traffic passing within feet of residential front doors.

Vaughan savaged
Defra air quality man Robert Vaughan suffered a Jeremy Paxman-style attack from Alan Walder of the London Borough of Redbridge.

Biomass baseline
Attempts have been made to establish a baseline for biomass emissions in London.

Vaughan sets out timetable for NO2
Defra is likely to consult on proposed measures to achieve NO2 compliance in late 2009 for submission in summer 2010.

Factors finalised at last
After a considerable delay, DfT emission factors have finally been agreed.

Report reveals FDMS teething problems
An AEA report commissioned for Defra and the devolved regions has revealed a number of teething problems with new FDMS particle monitors being installed into the automatic network.
l QA/QC Data Ratification Report for the Automatic Urban and Rural Network, October-December 2008, and Annual Review for 2008 can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

Bamtastic! North Lincs happy with monitors
North East Lincs council has lots to monitor as its patch contains the UK’s largest port and the industrial town of Grimsby.
l www.et.co.uk

US tightens NO2 objective
US President Obama has pushed through a Bill that will pave the way for tighter NO2 standards.

Bus fleet emissions vary widely
A report prepared for Defra suggests that actual bus fleet composition may vary markedly across the country.
l Review of bus fleet compositions and implications for emissions reduction strategies can be viewed www.airquality.co.uk

Biomass works for Stansted Airport
A biomass plant built to heat Stansted Airport is said to have worked well through the recent hard winter.

Good data or your money back
A monitor support firm is offering money back if its kit fails to work. l www.supportingu.co.uk

Scotland becomes clean, claims report
Scotland can boast that for the first time, mean NO2 levels for both urban background and roadside/ kerbside locations in Scotland are below the strategy objective level of 40µg/m3.
l 2008 annual report for the Scottish AQ database project and A report on the results of a gravimetric particulate monitoring study can be viewed on www.scottishairquality. co.uk/reports

Epaqs finalises industrial standards reports
Experts have finalised standards for industrial pollutants such halogens and metals.
l Addendum to guidelines for halogens and hydrogen halides in ambient air & Guidelines for metals and metalloids in ambient air for the protection of human health can be viewed on the Epaqs website www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/panels/aqs/

GLA leans on consultants
Air Quality Consultants is to offer helpdesk-style assistance to London Boroughs under a new contract let by the GLA.
l The helpdesk can be contacted by email at LondonAQHelpdesk@aqconsultants.co.uk or by telephone at 0117 973 7761.

Major projects criticised on emissions
Exhaust clean up lobby groups have criticised organisers of the London Olympics and Crossrail for failing to adopt best construction practice on emissions.

Guidance released on totting up CO2
Defra and Decc has released a consultation on guidance on how to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions.
l The consultation document and guidance are available at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/greenhouse-gas/index.htm

Slump affects green consultants
Environmental consultants have been ranked in a new in-depth survey carried out by Environment Analyst Publishing & Research.
l Market assessment of the UK environmental consulting sector 2009 is available to Environment Analyst’s Market Intelligence Service customers via the website, www.environ ment-analyst.com/intelligence

Call for clarity in new planning procedures
Epuk and Lacors have expressed concern at the “inadequate protection for local communities” in the 2008 Planning Act.

South Yorks rewards air quality champions
South Yorks Care4Air initiative has held a high profile awards night to recognise local air quality champions.

Shipping consultation
Government is consulting on tighter fuel standards for shipping fuels.
l Draft Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 can be viewed on www.mcga.gov.uk/

Shipping emissions studied by MPs
MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee have scrutinised the issues surrounding pollution and CO2 emissions from shipping. MPs says UK policy lacks coherence.
l Reducing CO2 and other emissions from shipping can be viewed on www.parliament.uk/eacom

6% it is then
UK medical experts settle on a 6% risk estimate of dying from air pollution. But is it enough.

The significance of significance
Members of the Institute of Air Quality Management met last month to debate significance of air quality in planning.

Cancer study update
The US Health Effects Institute has published an extended analysis of the American Cancer Society study of particulate air pollution and mortality.
l Report 140, and a commentary by the HEI review committee can be viewed on www.healtheffects.org

AAMG paper call
Measurement group AAMG is calling for papers for its Christmas air quality conference.
l The deadline for the submission of an abstract for an oral or poster presentation has been extended until 17th July http://rsc-aamg.org/Pages/ Meetings/MAA2009.html

German LEZ success
Measurements suggest air quality has improved as a result of a low emission zone in Germany.
l More information on German low emission zones can be found on www.lowemissionzones.eu

Top green cars
The Environmental Transport Association has named and shamed the best and worst cars in terms of their environmental impact.
l A fully searchable database of the results and full details on each car will be published at www.greencarawards.co.uk

Recession help
Firms that mothball industrial processes are eligible for reduced price permitting.
l Guidance proformas and revisions to the charging schemes www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/ppc/localauth/ fees-risk/fees.htm

Rights bid fails
A bid by Greenpeace to challenge German authorities on air quality has failed.

Climate change threat
Defra has released UK climate projections based on Met Office science, illustrating the extent of the changes the UK might face in the absence of global action to cut emissions – warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, increased risk of coastal erosion and more severe weather.
l www.defra.gov.uk/environ ment/climatechange/adapt/ index.htm

Ministerial shake up
Government wobbles has led to a shake up of the Cabinet and some official positions.

Rushlight set for 2009
The Rushlight Awards 2009 have now opened to entries. Now in their third year, the Rushlight Awards celebrate environmental excellence. An air quality category will be “awarded to the most significant technological development or innovation that reduces or treats pollution in the air.”
l More details on website www.rushlightawards.co.uk

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June 2009 news

Spotlight turns on modelling
A report on ozone modelling has revealed continued efforts to improve the ‘fitness for purpose’ of large scale models used to support Defra policy.

Elections prompt air quality enthusiasm
In the run up to the European and local elections, Lib Dems have pledged they will ensure the UK complies with European laws on air quality.

USAs delayed
Late guidance and the move to unitary authorities has been blamed for the delays in getting updating and screening assessments in on time. Defra has granted extensions to some local authorities.
l The reporting website can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/la_report_admin

Mayor hints at rethink on LEZ
London Mayor Boris Johnson has set out his thinking on low emission zones in his formal review of the transport strategy. This strategy could provide some hints as to the direction of the forthcoming revamp of the London air quality strategy.
l Transport Strategy Statement of Intent www.london.gov.uk/mayor/publications/2009/05/transport-strategy.jsp

Ozone progress
AEA has compiled a report to Europe on the UK progress on ozone.
l UK and Gibraltar air quality modelling for annual reporting 2007 on ambient air quality assessment under Directives 96/62/EC and 2002/3/EC relating to ozone. www.airquality.co.ukreports

Europe can rely on US death rates
A large Health Effects Institute study of Dutch residents has confirmed that US pollution risk estimates can be used in Europe.
l Effects of long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution on respiratory and cardiovascular mortality in the Netherlands: The NLCS-AIR study can be viewed on the Health Effects Institute website www.healtheffects.org

This year’s first warning issued
In early June, Defra issued its first smog alert of 2009.

Ministerial visit
Environment secretary Hilary Benn (left) has visited ERG’s air pollution unit (seen here with ERG’s Gary Fuller).

Kings and Imperial cooperate on air
A joint environment centre has been set up to focus research on the environment, including air quality.
l website www.environment-health.ac.uk

Coke oven permit refused
The Environment Agency has refused an application from a South Yorkshire coke and chemical plant to bring back into operation nine old coke ovens.

Scottish company fined for burning caravans
A company from Silloth-on-Solway has pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court to burning waste illegally on their own land.

Six year review of process notes
Defra is consulting on an indicative timetable for the review of the 80 process guidance (PG) notes on standards of air emissions regulated from industrial activities.
l Information on progress will be available on the Environment Agency’s Local Authorities Unit website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/permitting/36421.aspx

Further agreement on vapour regs
European Parliament has voted to approve at the first reading legislation to cut harmful vapour emissions from fuel stations.

Mapping alternative launched
Users of Ordnance Survey mapping now have an alternative supplier. The maps may be of interest to mappers of air quality and noise.

AQMA maps revealed in GIS exercise
A list of UK AQMAs is contained in a new report from AEA. The report details AQMAs, flagging up recent changes, and how the areas have been set into GIS form. 2008
l Updated GIS dataset of air quality management areas can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports

Buses feature in Oxford LEZ
Oxfordshire County Council has affirmed its support for its shared plan with Oxford City Council to improve air quality by declaring a low emission zone in the city.

Quinn Glass saga continues
Quinn Glass of Chester has appealed against an enforcement notice requiring its plant to be dismantled.

Heatwave plan updated
New advice to help people with respiratory problems cope in a heatwave has been published.
l The Heatwave Plan can be viewed on www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_084670

Defra endorses low emission approach
Defra air quality head Martin Williams has praised the Low Emission Strategies (LES) Partnership and emphasised the importance for transport planners, land use planners and environmental practitioners coming together in a coherent and complementary way.
l The Low Emission Strategy Partnership has a new website which can be viewed at www.lowemissionstrategies.org

Scrappage scheme encourages small cars
The Government is claiming that the £2000 ‘new for old’ scrappage grants have succeeded in increasing car sales.

Openair opens its doors
Air quality professionals can now access a new way of manipulating data they collect through monitoring.
l Contact David Carslaw, www.openair-project.org

Opsis canyon monitoring for Sandwell
Sandwell MBC faced difficulties when considering the best way to monitor a street which, at ground level, had shops and offices and residents at first or second floor level.
l More on Opsis: www.et.co.uk

Mcerts confirms continued growth
Organisers of the recent Mcerts exhibition say visitor numbers grew by 10% in comparison with the 2007 figures.

World class places
New guidance aims to set out why and how quality of place matters and the practical steps the Government will be taking to improve things.
l World class places: The Government’s strategy for improving quality of place www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/worldclassplaces

Planners told
Northern Ireland planners have been told that greater weight will be given in the future, where appropriate, to the economic consideration of planning proposals.

Welsh guidance
The Welsh Assembly Government has issued its version of technical guidance for air quality.
l  http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/airqualitypollution/laqmguidance/?lang=en

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

More trees in
London Mayor Boris Johnson says he is expanding his street tree programme. He claims that street trees offer a range of benefits including attracting wildlife, providing shade and helping improve local air quality.

EPP consultation
Consultation has started on the structure and content of several pieces of draft Government guidance for the Environmental Permitting Regulations.
l www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/env-permitting-guidance

European quality
A report has been released on European quality of life. It reviews air quality and noise impacts.
l Ensuring quality of life in Europe’s cities and towns, EEA Report No 5/2009 can be viewed on www.eea.europa.eu/publications

Hydrocarbons down
The annual summary of data produced by the UK ambient automatic hydrocarbon air quality network shows continued falls in 2007.
l It can be viewed on the reports section of www.airquality.co.uk

GHG reports also
Two reports on greenhouse gas inventories have been published.
l UK greenhouse gas inventory, 1990 to 2007: Annual report for submission under the framework convention on climate change and Summary of differences between geographical coverages of reported GHG emissions can be viewed on www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/

Forecast meeting
AEA is repeating its popular annual UK Air Quality Forecasting Seminar. It will be held on Thursday 16th July at the Council House in Birmingham.
l Contact sue.powditch@ aeat.co.uk for further information and a booking form.

Sussex web update
The Sussex Air Quality Partnership (Sussex-air) has launching its new website (www.sussex-air.net) which provides new Google mapping of near-real-time data from the Sussex-network accessible to the public.
l www.sussex-air.net

Monitors move
Air Monitors has moved. Its new telephone number is 01684 857530 and new address is: Unit 2, Bredon Court, Brockeridge Park Twyning, Tewkesbury Gloucestershire, GL20 6FF.
l www.airmonitors.co.uk

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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