Air Quality - Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a listed of the most commonly asked questions about Air Quality, if you can't find what you are looking for then contact us using the details opposite and we will be happy to help.
What are the council’s duties for air quality ?
What air quality monitoring does the council do ?
What is an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) ?
What is a relevant receptor ?
What is Nitrogen Dioxide ?
What Is The National Air Quality Objective (NAQO) ?
What are the health effects of high levels Of NO2 ?
What is the council doing about air pollution ?
How does Reading compare with other towns & cities ?
What can we all do ?
Where can I find out more information on current levels of air pollution ?
Where can I find out further general air quality information ?
Contact Us
Every council is required to review and assess air quality across its district as part of a 3 year rolling programme, and compare the monitored levels against a set of air quality objectives or target levels for 7 key pollutants. If a council finds pollution levels above the objectives it has a duty to declare an air quality management area and produce an action plan aimed at reducing the pollution.
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We have been monitoring air quality in Reading for over 10 years and at the moment monitor at over 60 locations across the borough. The Council currently operate four continuous monitoring stations and a substantial passive diffusion tube network across the borough.
The monitoring has shown that general background concentrations across Reading are generally below the national standards as shown by the graph below.
However, the montoring has also found that there are a number of 'hotspot' locations across the borough where the levels of nitrogen dioxide are exceeding the annual mean standard.
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The Council monitors air quality and assesses it against the National Air Quality Objectives (NAQOs). In an area where pollutant levels are higher than the objective level, and there are “relevant receptors”, the Council must declare the area as an air quality management area, and formulate an action plan to address air quality. The air quality management area that we have is related to exceedances of the annual objective for nitrogen dioxide.
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These are defined within the Environment Act 1995 as “all locations where members of the public might be regularly exposed, e.g. building facades of residential properties, schools, hospitals, libraries etc.” For the 1 hour objectives it also includes kerbside sites (e.g. pavements of busy shopping streets) and outdoor locations to which the public might reasonably expect to spend 1 hour or longer, including car parks, bus stations and railways stations which are not fully enclosed.
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Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a colourless, odourless gas formed by the combination of nitrogen and oxygen during the combustion process. Exhaust fumes from cars and other vehicles are the main source of nitrogen dioxide. NO2 is an irritant gas, so although there is no evidence that it causes respiratory diseases such as asthma, it is known to exacerbate symptoms.
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The NAQO is the level that the Government says we should aim to keep air pollution below. The NAQO for nitrogen dioxide is a yearly average of 40ug/m3 , or about 21 parts per billion.
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With the normal levels of NO2 we usually get in Reading, even in the air quality management area if your health is good then you are very unlikely to have any serious short-term ill effects.
However, people with asthma and other respiratory problems on days of very high pollution may feel their symptoms are worse and experience difficulty with breathing or a tightening of the airways.
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The Council has implemented an air quality action plan aimed at reducing the pollution levels, both within the AQMA and across the borough as a whole. The action plan is a holistic document encompassing all elements the Council is addressing to tackle poor air quality. However, one of the main strands is traffic management and reducing congestion.
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Over 220 local authorities have declared air quality management areas, the vast majority being for exceedence of the annual NO2 NAQO. Air quality can be an issue for large towns and cities as well as rural market towns. Sometimes the road layout and local dispersion can have as much of an effect as the traffic congestion.
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There are many things we can all do to help improve our local air quality as well as help to slow down climate change:
· Walk or cycle instead of using the car and enjoy feeling healthier and fitter.
· Get to know and use public transport – buses, coaches, trains – For information on public transport services and journey planning see Reading Travel Info (Link at the top of the page).
· If possible combine journeys with someone else who is going to the same shop/ meeting/ event – this will reduce congestion and save money.
· If possible drive efficiently – checking tyre pressure every 2 weeks, keeping your air filter and spark plugs clean, removing unnecessary weight (e.g. emptying the boot, removing unused roof racks), sticking to speed limits and driving smoothly without labouring the engine all reduce petrol costs significantly!
· Drive during less busy “off peak” times and try to combine trips to reduce the number of journeys and the amount of time spent sitting in traffic.
· Avoid having bonfires, instead recycle more and compost at home, or for garden waste use the garden waste collection available to Reading residents.
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Up to date air pollution levels can currently be found by :
Freephone : 0800 55 66 77 (available 24hrs a day)
TV Teletext Page : 155 & 169
Internet : The Air Quality Archive - Link at the bottom of the page.
Further information on air quality and related issues can be found by using the links listed at the top left of the page.
To find out more about air quality in Reading or the local air quality management process in general you can contact us using the details listed at the top of the page.
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