§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date the standards for the eight pollutants named in the National Air Quality Strategy were last reviewed; and on what date they will next be reviewed. [64666]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 27 June 2002]The standards within the Air Quality Strategy are recommended to Ministers by the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) or are based on the limit values in the European Union's Air Quality Daughter Directives. The Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards and their secretariat keep a watching brief on the literature for the health effects of air pollutants and make recommendations to the Department when they are aware of information that could change their original point of view.
The table sets out when each of the standards was first proposed, dates of any reviews already carried out and plans for future reviews.
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Pollutant First produced Reviewed Next review Nitrogen dioxide December 1996 by EPAQS EU First Daughter Directive limit value adopted in 1999 To be reviewed by European Commission in 2003 Ozone May 1994 by EPAQS EU Third Daughter Directive limit value to be adopted in 2003 Under review as part of the Clear Air for Europe programme Particulate matter November 1995 by EPAQS EU First Daughter Directive limit value adopted in 1999 To be reviewed by European Commission in 2003 Sulphur dioxide September 1995 by EPAQS EU First Daughter Directive limit value adopted in 1999 Daughter Directive requires the European Commission to report by 2003
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many air quality monitoring sites operate in the United Kingdom; how many of these sites monitor all the pollutants named in the National Air Quality Strategy; and how many of these sites recorded air quality exceedences for each of the pollutants named in the National Air Quality Strategy. [646611
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 27 June 2002]There are a total of 1,709 air quality monitoring sites in United Kingdom. These are broken down by network in Table I below.
Table 1: Number of air quality monitoring sites in the United Kingdom Number of sites Automatic monitoring (nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10, carbon monoxide, ozone, benzene, 1,3-butadiene) 122
Table 2: number of sites exceeding the standards and objectives in the Air Quality Strategy in 2001 Automatic sites Standard Objective Number of sites exceeding Air Quality Strategy standard in 2001 Number of sites exceeding Air Quality Strategy objective in 2001 Nitrogen dioxide Hourly mean, 200 not to be exceeded more 18 4 micrograms per metre cubed than 18 times per year Annual mean 40 32 0 micrograms per metre cubed Sulphur dioxide 15 minute mean, 266 not to be exceeded more 17 1 micrograms per metre cubed than 35 times per year Hourly mean, 350 not to be exceeded more 2 0 micrograms per metre cubed than 24 times per year Daily mean, 125 micrograms not to be exceeded more 1 1 Particulate matter (PM10) 24 hour mean, 50 not to be exceeded more 59 6 micrograms per cubic metre than 35 times per year Annual mean, 40 1 micrograms per metre cubed Carbon monoxide Running 8 hour mean, 11.6 0 0 micrograms per metre cubed Benzene Running annual mean, 16.25 0 0 micrograms per metre cubed 1,3-butadiene Running annual mean 2.25 0 0 micrograms per metre cubed Non-Automatic sites Number of sites exceeding Air Quality Strategy standard in 2001 Number of sites exceeding Air Quality Strategy objective in 2001 Nitrogen dioxide Annual mean, 40 251 per metre cubed Sulphur dioxide Daily mean, 125 micrograms not to be exceeded more 8 4 Lead Annual mean, 0.5 0 0 micrograms per metre cubed
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when(a) 1,3-butadienes, (b) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
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Table 1: Number of air quality monitoring sites in the United Kingdom Number of sites Non-automatic monitoring: Nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes 1309 Black smoke/sulphur dioxide 150 Rural sulphur dioxide 40 Rural nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube 32 Lead 6 Benzene 28 Hazardous air pollutants (PCBs, Dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) 22 Total 1709 No sites monitor all the pollutants in the Air Quality Strategy. However, London Marylebone Road monitors all the pollutants except lead. The number of sites recording air quality exceedences for the pollutants named in the Strategy during 2001 are given in Table 2 below.
(c) cadmium, (d) arsenic, (e) nickel and (f) mercury will be added to the pollutants monitored under the National Air Quality Strategy for the United Kingdom. [64663]
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§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 27 June 2002]Of these pollutants:
- (a) 1,3 butadiene is already one of the eight pollutants covered by the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, published in January 2000 ("the Strategy");
- (b) we consulted in September 2001 on the possibility of adding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to the list of pollutants covered by the Strategy, and hope to make an announcement on this shortly. Levels of PAH in the UK are currently measured at 21 sites, and we hope to add a further 4 sites to the network as soon as possible;
- (c) we have no immediate plans to add cadmium, arsenic, nickel and mercury to the list of pollutants covered by the Strategy. Our monitoring shows that levels of these pollutants in ambient air in the UK are not generally a cause for concern, and the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) estimates that emissions of each have fallen significantly in recent years. Between 1990 and 1999, for example. estimated emissions of cadmium, arsenic, nickel and mercury fell by 71 per cent. 69 per cent., 47 per cent., and 65 per cent. respectively.
We understand that the planned Fourth European Union Air Quality Daughter Directive may include proposals in respect of PAH, cadmium, arsenic, nickel and mercury. We intend to keep under review the need for separate national measures on these pollutants in the light of progress with negotiations on the Directive.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts have been taken to ensure the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants plays a role in supporting the United Kingdom's input into air pollution policy making within the European Union. [64665]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 27 June 2002]The Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants is a Department of Health non-departmental public body. Its advice is published in Reports and Statements, which are publicly available on the Committee's website "http:// www.doh.gov.uk/comeap/index.htm". As necessary we draw attention to that advice in contacts and in negotiations with the Commission and other member states. The advice from the Committee is taken into account in developing a UK position on proposals for new air quality legislation.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is currently carrying out reviews on the health impacts of particulate matter and ozone, which will feed into air pollution policy in the European Union. Department of Health officials ensure that WHO is aware of the work of the Committee.