Monitoring Pollutants

Why do we Monitor Pollutants in Islington?

Air pollution has been monitored in the in the UK for many years. Islington Council has participated in national networks providing information on air quality in the borough since the 1960s.

The information collected is used to help Islington review and assess air quality in the borough, determine whether air quality standards are being met, provide the government with information for policy decisions and provide the borough's population with information on the air it breathes.

What Pollutants are Monitored in Islington?

In 1997 the government produced its National Air Quality Strategy requiring local authorities to review air quality in their borough against eight health based pollution standards. The pollutants of concern and their main sources are listed below:

• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)- associated with road transport, domestic boilers, industrial processes
• Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) - vehicle exhausts (diesels), boilers
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) - vehicle exhausts (petrol), and poorly operated boilers
• Ozone (O3) - although not directly emitted (formed by a reaction involving nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in sunlight), fuel combustion and vehicle exhausts
• Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) - power stations, domestic boilers, industry
• Benzene - vehicle exhausts (petrol vehicles)
• Lead - vehicle exhaust (leaded petrol)
• 1,3 Butadine - vehicle exhausts and industry.
  
  

To date the review process has established that air quality standards in Islington are achieved for all pollutants excluding Nitrogen Dioxide and Particulate Matter and as such, these two pollutants form the main focus for monitoring.

The Pollution Team monitor levels of Particulate Matter (PM10) and Nitrogen Dioxide at various locations throughout the borough. Carbon Monoxide is also monitored at one site.

For further information regarding these pollutants, visit www.erg.kcl.ac.uk