Islington is to have two new air quality monitoring sites to give a more complete picture of air pollution in the borough.
Two new automatic monitoring machines are to be installed, the first this week (13MAR06) in Foxham Gardens (Foxham Road, N19) and the second in May in Duncan Terrace park (off Upper Street, N1).
The machines will monitor the airborne particulates emitted from road transport fumes, combustion, power generation and other industrial sources as well as natural sources such as dust storms.
Executive Member for Sustainability, Councillor Bridget Fox, said: 'Air quality is fundamental to our health and the quality of our lives. We're serious about improving Islington's air - the Council has declared the borough an Air Quality Action Zone and is actively working with our local community and businesses, and regional and national agencies to tackle this.'
'Most of the air pollution in London is caused by road traffic but we can all do our bit, by walking, cycling, or using public transport as much as possible. If you must use a car, keep it well-tuned and investigate green fuels as well as the option of car clubs, shared ownership or even just lift-sharing. There's lots of information on various schemes on the council website.'
These two new monitors will complement the two existing monitoring stations on busy Holloway Road and Upper Street. The Holloway Road site measures carbon dioxide, and both stations monitor particulates and nitrogen dioxide, which comes from road transport, domestic boilers and industrial processes.
The two new monitors will bring the total of Islington's air monitoring sites to 23, as there are also 19 sampling sites (diffusion tubes) across the borough that record nitrogen dioxide levels.
The information collected is used to help the council determine whether air quality standards are being met and inform its Air Quality Action Plan, provide the Government with information for policy development, and provide the borough's population with information on the air we breathe.
Residents can access air quality information and a quarterly newsletter on the council's website. There are also plans to offer a text message air quality bulletin for interested residents, such as those with allergies and asthma.
The running costs of the new particulate monitors are being funded through the council's A1 Borough project, which aims to transform the environment on and around the A1 street making it a safer, cleaner and greener place to live, study and work in.
For more information contact Aled Griffiths in the council's pollution team on 020 7527 3228.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008