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September 2008

2008 website review click here for full pdf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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August 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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July 2008

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

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

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

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

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

News from the recent Iapsc meeting held in London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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June 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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May 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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April 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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March 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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February 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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January 2008

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

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

News from the IAPSC meeting held in Birmingham last month

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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December 2007

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wales LAPC charges
Wales local authorities are being consulted on 2008/09 risk based fees and charges for local authority regulated industries.