Air Quality

The quality of our air in the United Kingdom has improved considerably over the last few decades. Overall, the air we breathe is cleaner today than at any time since before the industrial revolution. This has been achieved through regulation of emissions from industrial processes, progressive tightening of emissions and fuel standards for road vehicles and controlling smoke from domestic premises. 

Despite this positive picture, air pollution still harms health and the environment. Recent research has shown that some pollutants are more dangerous than previously thought. For some pollutants there is no absolute safe threshold. Air pollution is currently estimated to reduce the life expectancy of every person in the UK by an average of 7-8 months with estimated equivalent health costs of up to £20 billion each year. Air pollution also has a detrimental effect on our ecosystems and vegetation. Clearly there are significant benefits to be gained from further improvements.

The UK Air Quality Strategy published in July 2007 commits local authorities to achieve Air Quality Objectives for seven pollutants.  The Environment Act 1995 requires local authorities to periodically review and assess air quality in their areas to determine whether the national Air Quality Objectives are being met.

Follow the links opposite to find out how the Council is managing local air quality.

Links

http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/business/planning-and-design-advice/supplementary-guidance-air-quality-management-and-new-development-2011/

 

	Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Defra works to control and manage air quality across the UK, setting out a way forward for work and planning on air quality issues and setting the air quality standards and objectives to be achieved. The Government’s UK Air Quality Strategy web page sets objectives for the main air pollutants to protect health and was published in July 2007. UK Air Quality Strategy web page Air Quality web page UK-AIR: Air Information Resource Find out what the air quality is currently like in your area, or find out about air quality in the UK from the present back to 1960. UK-AIR: Air Information Resource webpage
	Directgov Public services all in one place Air Pollution web page
	Suffolk County Council The Suffolk local authorities have a duty to monitor and assess air quality across the county and to prepare annual reports. Supplementary Guidance