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North Norfolk District Council
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Cromer
Norfolk
NR27 9EN
You are here : Home > Environment & Waste > Environment Protection > Air Quality
Air Quality
National Perspective
The Local Air Quality Management process as set out in Part IV of the Environment Act (1995), the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 2007 and the relevant Policy and Technical Guidance documents. The LAQM process places an obligation on all local authorities to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas, and to determine whether or not the air quality objectives are likely to be achieved. Where exceedences are considered likely, the local authority must then declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends to put in place in pursuit of the objectives.
Air Quality Objectives
The air quality objectives applicable to LAQM in England are set out in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 (SI 928), The Air Quality (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 3043), and are shown in the table below. This table shows the objectives in units of microgrammes per cubic metre 0g/m3 (milligrammes per cubic metre, mg/m3 for carbon monoxide) with the number of exceedences in each year that are permitted (where applicable).
| Site Name | Location | Pollutant | Site Type | Method | OS Grid Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cromer 1 | 9 Hamilton Road, Cromer | NOx | Roadside | Diffusion Tube | TG 217 422 |
| Cromer 6 | 33 Cliff Road, Cromer | NOx | Background | Diffusion Tube | TG 227 412 |
| North Walsham 8 | Angel Court, North Walsham | NOx | Roadside | Diffusion Tube | TG 281 303 |
| North Walsham 7 | 26 Corbett Road, North Walsham | NOx | Background | Diffusion Tube | TG 283 309 |
| Fakenham 9 | Post Office, Queens Road, Fakenham | NOx | Roadside | Diffusion Tube | TF 921 296 |
| Fakenham 9a | 33-35 Oak Street, Fakenham | NOx | Roadside AQC | Diffusion Tube | TF01868 29640 |
| Fakenham 4 | Fakenham Infants School, Norwich Road, Fakenham | NOx | Background | Diffusion Tube | TF 926 296 |
| Hoveton 10a | Miss Roy Stalham Road, Hoveton | NOx | Roadside | Diffusion Tube | TG303181 |
| Hoveton 10b | Miss Roy Stalham Road, Hoveton | NOx | Roadside AQC | Diffusion Tube | TG309186 |
| Hoveton 10c | Roys Food Hall, Stalham Road, Hoveton | NOx | Roadside | Diffusion Tube | TG30155 18285 |
| Hoveton 11 | Waveney Close, Stalham Road, Hoveton | NOx | Background | Diffusion Tube | TG31133 18622 |
| Pollutants | Sources | Health Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide | All combustion processes (for example road vehicles and domestic heating) produce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) which particularly in the presence of ozone is converted into nitrogen dioxide. | General irritation to airways including increased chance of respiratory infection and impaired lung function. |
| Primary Particulates | Road traffic (for example diesel engines, brake and tyre wear); industrial sources (for example power stations). | Respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Concerns about long-term effects. |
| Secondary Particulates (e.g. sulphates, nitrates) | Formed through the oxidation (presence of ozone) of particular gases (for example sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide) in the atmosphere condensing to form fine particles. | Respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Concerns about long-term effects. |
| Carbon monoxide | Road transport and industry (all combustion of carbon based fuels). | Reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood and at low levels reduces concentration and at higher levels causes headaches, nausea, dizziness. At very high levels it can lead to death. |
| Sulphur dioxide | Combustion of fossil fuels (mainly coal and heavy oils). | Causes breathing difficulties, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. People suffering from asthma are particularly susceptible. |
| Lead | Petrol and industry (such as smelting, and paint works). | Can effect the intellectual development of children, and at very high doses poisoning, brain and organ damage can occur. |
| Benzene | Combustion and distribution of petrol. | Exposure over a long time can lead to cancer. |
| 1, 3 Butadiene | Combustion of petrol and diesel, and the production of rubber for tyres. | Exposure over a long time can lead to cancer. |
| Ozone | Ozone is a photochemical pollutant which means it is primarily formed by the reactions of other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight. | Exposure can cause an irritant effect on the lungs, airway inflammation and short term respiratory symptoms. |
In April 2007 North Norfolk District Council produced Progress report under the Air Quality Review and Assessment process imposed on local authorities to examine, manage and report on local air quality within their area.
The assessment continued on from the previous an Updating and Screening Assessment which was undertaken in 2006 which considered each of the 7 pollutants in turn and studied local levels relative to the Air Quality Strategy objectives.
The report took information from, monitoring data, desktop study data, information cited in the Air Quality Stage 1 and Stage 2 reports and details of new pollution sources or significant changes to current pollution sources both within the District and within neighbouring Authority areas. Information was also gathered from our Strategic Planning Department and the County Highways Department to assess whether any proposed industrial or highway construction/changes could have an impact on predicted local pollution levels.
As a result this assessment concluded that all the Air Quality Objectives have been met. North Norfolk has no Air Quality Management Areas and there are no planned changes that would significantly affect the air quality.
North Norfolk District Council runs a comprehensive diffusion tube sampling program looking at specific concerns or sites, as well as a continuous air quality monitoring station located at Bacton on the Norfolk Coast.
There are 14 monitoring sites across North Norfolk (see table 1) monitoring Oxides of Nitrogen. These sites comprise two large towns, Cromer and North Walsham, the market town of Fakenham and the village of Hoveton.
Nitrogen Oxides are monitored due to concerns over the emissions from road vehicles and sites are selected due to their volume of traffic, level of congestion, proximity to receptors, e.g. residential property, general public. Benzene was monitored between April 2004 and June 2006 using diffusion tubes to provide confidence in meeting the more stringent 2010 objective. The 2007 Updating and Screening Assessment demonstrated that the 2010 objective has been met and the monitoring program was stopped.