Local Air Quality Management

• Thankfully the pea-souper smogs of the 1950s which caused thousands of deaths are now a thing of the past.

• We have achieved cleaner air through regulating industry and tightening emission standards for vehicles.

• But there are still concerns about today’s pollution levels.

• High levels of pollution harm human health and the environment.

• Everybody is at risk when air pollution is poor but, people with lung diseases or heart conditions are at greater risk especially if they are young or elderly.

• Air pollution incidents can trigger increased hospital admissions and contribute to the premature death of those who are seriously ill.

The main sources of pollution in Greater Manchester are road transport and industry.

Click on links or the images for:

Sources of the major pollutants in Greater Manchester Area	32k image
Proposed Air Quality Management Areas	32k image
10 year trend chart	5k image

What is the Government doing? The government has set health based standards for seven of the main pollutants. These pollutants are – nitrogen dioxide, fine particles (PM10), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, benzene, 1,3 butadiene and lead. The law requires local Councils to review and assess air quality in their areas to identify whether National targets are likely to be met. Councils in Greater Manchester have carried-out a detailed study of air quality in their areas using monitoring data and computer model predictions. The results showed that of the seven pollutants only nitrogen dioxide and fine particles are likely to exceed the target in some areas.

Where air quality targets are likely to be exceeded the local council must, by law, declare Air Quality Management Areas. An Action Plan aimed, at reducing pollution, will then be produced for the whole Greater Manchester Area

Your council is working with other authorities and people responsible for planning and providing transport services to improve air quality. This means:

• Improving public transport and getting more people to use it.

• Making it safer for people to walk and cycle.

• Encouraging ‘green’ vehicles which produce less pollution.

• Working with employers on green transport plans and car sharing schemes

• Working with planners to reduce pollution from new developments

• Working with the Health Authorities to ensure that health effects of poor air quality are monitored and assessed.

• Working with industry to apply tough environmental standards on pollution emitted to air.

• Everybody can help to reduce pollution

• Plan your journeys. Do you really need to make that car journey?

• Keep your car regularly maintained and drive smoothly.

• Make better use of public transport.

• Cycling and walking more –it’s healthier and causes no pollution.

What do you think?

• The extent of the problem around Greater Manchester can be seen on the map overleaf. This shows the areas that may be at risk in 2005 of exceeding the targets.

• Following consultation, the Greater Manchester authorities must declare  Air Quality Management Areas. An Action Plan will be produced showing how pollution can be reduced. The Action Plan will cover a wider area than the Air Quality Management Areas.

• Air pollution is everyone’s problem and the local authorities want to know what you think about pollution in your area.

Further Information

Local Authority Contacts

If you want more information on Local Air Quality Management you can contact your Council’s Environmental Services Section.

What’s Today’s Air Quality like?

BBC Ceefax: Page 414 (North - West), Page 411 (UK). ITV Teletext Page155.

Freephone: 0800 556677 – Department of Environment Transport and the Regions (DETR)

Manchester Area Pollution Advisory Council: http://www.mapac.org.uk

Air Quality Information http://www.aeat.co.uk/netcen/airqual/

 All Councils are working together to reduce air pollution. If you think we are getting it right please confirm your support, but if you feel we could do better let us know how.

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