To ask Her Majesty's Government how each of the air quality alert bandings recommended by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants for each air pollutant equate to (a) equivalent maximum exposure levels currently recommended by the World Health Organisation, and (b) the relevant European Union limit values for ambient air quality. [HL5754]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): The UK Air Pollution Index
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(API) is currently under review by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP). The outcome of the review is expected in June 2010.
The tables below show the following:
table 1 details the boundaries between index points for each pollutant (Ozone, NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), SO2 (sulphur dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide) and PM10 (particulate matter)) for the current COMEAP bandings system;table 2 details the UK API health descriptors for people who are sensitive to air pollution;table 3 details the maximum exposure levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO); andtable 4 details the EU limit values for air pollution.
Please note that the averaging times are different for the data in tables 1, 3, and 4 and are, therefore, not directly comparable.
Table 1: Boundaries between index points for each pollutant
Band
Index
Ozone
Nitrogen Dioxide
Sulphur dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
PM10 Particles
Running 8 hourly or hourly mean*
Hourly mean
15 minute mean
Running 8 hourly mean
Running 24 hour mean
micro- pm-3
ppb
micro- pm-3
ppb
micro- pm-3
ppb
mgm-3
ppm
micro- pm-3(Grav. Equiv.)
micro- pm-3(Ref.Equiv.)
Low
1
0-33
0-16
0-95
0-49
0-88
0-32
0-3.8
0.0-3.2
0-21
0-19
2
34-65
17-32
96-190
50-99
89-176
33-66
3.9-7.6
3.3-6.6
22-42
20-40
3
66-99
33-49
191-286
100-149
177-265
67-99
7.7-11.5
6.7-9.9
43-64
41-62
Moderate
4
100-125
50-62
287-381
150-199
266-354
100-132
11.6-13.4
10.0-11.5
65-74
63-72
5
126-153
63-76
382-477
200-249
355-442
133-166
13.5-15.4
11.6-13.2
75-86
73-84
6
154-179
77-89
478-572
250-299
443-531
167-199
15.5-17.3
13.3-14.9
87-96
85-94
High
7
180-239
90-119
573-635
300-332
532-708
200-266
17.4-19.2
15.0-16.5
97-107
95-105
8
240-299
120-149
636-700
333-366
709-886
267-332
19.3-21.2
16.6-18.2
108-118
106-116
9
300-359
150-179
701-763
367-399
887-1063
333-399
21.3-23.1
18.3-19.9
119-129
117-127
Very High
10
360 or more
180 or more
764 or more
400 or more
1064 or more
400 or more
23.2 or more
20 or more
130 or more
128 or more
* For ozone, the maximum of the eight-hourly and hourly mean is used to calculate the index value.
Table 2: The UK Air Pollution Index health descriptors for people who are sensitive to air pollution
Banding
Index
Health Descriptor
Low
1, 2, or 3
Effects are unlikely to be noticed even by individuals who know they are sensitive to air pollutants
Moderate
4, 5, or 6
Mild effects, unlikely to require action, may be noticed among sensitive individuals.
High
7, 8, or 9
Significant effects may be noticed by sensitive individuals and action to avoid or reduce these effects may be needed (eg, reducing exposure by spending less time in polluted areas outdoors). Asthmatics will find that their "reliever" inhaler is likely to reverse the effects on the lung.
Very High
10
The effects on sensitive individuals described for "High" levels of pollution may worsen.
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Table 3: The maximum exposure levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO)
Ozone
Nitrogen Dioxide
Sulphur Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
PM10 Particles
Running 8-hourly or hourly mean
hourly mean
15-minute mean
Running 8-hourly mean
Running 24-hour mean
120 micro-pm-3
200 micro-pm-3
No data available for this averaging time. WHO recommends a guideline of 500micro-pm-3 for an averaging time of 10 minutes.
10mgm-3
The available information for short and long-term exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 does not allow a judgment to be made regarding concentrations below which no effects would be expected.
*Under the new directive the member state can apply for an extension of up to five years (ie, maximum up to 2015) in a specific zone. Request is subject to assessment by the Commission. In such cases within the time extension period the limit value applies at the level of the limit value + maximum margin of tolerance (48pg/m3 for annual NO2 limit value).
**Under the new directive the member state can apply for an extension until three years after the date of entry into force of the new directive (ie, May 2011) in a specific zone. Request is subject to assessment by the Commission. In such cases within the time extension period the limit value applies at the level of the limit value + maximum margin of tolerance (35 days at 75 microgrammes/m3 for daily PM10 limit value, 48 microgrammes/m3 for annual PM10 limit value).
Under EU law a limit value is legally binding from the date it enters into force subject to any exceedances permitted by the legislation. A target value is to be attained as far as possible by the attainment date and so is less strict than a limit value.
Asked by Lord Berkeley
To ask Her Majesty's Government what short-term action plans to improve air quality have been produced and implemented in Greater London. [HL5777]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure in Greater London that European Union limit values for air quality once attained are not then exceeded. [HL5778]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Greater London Authority (GLA) provides for the mayor to prepare an air quality strategy for Greater London. This is in accordance with the Section 80 of the Environment Act 1995 national air quality strategy, prepared and published by the Secretary of State. The Greater London strategy covers the implementation of the policies contained in the national strategy, and for the achievement of the air quality standards and objectives prescribed in regulations made under Section 87(2)(a) and (b) of the Environmental Act. No short-term action plans have been produced or implemented in Greater London.