HC Deb 03 March 1994 vol 238 cc790-1W
Mrs. Bridget Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the levels of atmospheric pollution and the levels of nitrous oxide and black smoke emissions in the Lewisham area in each year since 1985.

Mr. Atkins

Annual average concentrations of black smoke and nitrogen dioxide in Lewisham is given in the table. No monitoring data on levels of nitrous oxide in the Lewisham area is available. However, Lewisham was included in both the 1986 and 1991 national nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube surveys. Black smoke is monitored in areas of the United Kingdom at risk of exceeding the limit value of the European Community directive on smoke and sulphur dioxide—89/427/EEC. The site in Lewisham was closed in 1989 since concentrations of these pollutants were not at risk of exceeding the directive limit values.

Annual emissions of smoke and nitrogen dioxide between 1985 and 1991 are given in the Department of the Environment's 15th edition of the Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Annual average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and black smoke at Ladywell Baths, Lewisham High Street, Lewisham, London
Year Black smoke (ug/m3) NO2 (ppb)1
1985 12
1986 15 26
1987 17
1988 23
1989
1990
1991 32
1 Parts per billion at 20°C and 1013 millibars pressure.