Air Quality Progress Report 2013 - Stevenage2013 Air Quality Progress Report for Stevenage Borough...
Transcript of Air Quality Progress Report 2013 - Stevenage2013 Air Quality Progress Report for Stevenage Borough...
2013 Air Quality Progress Report for Stevenage Borough Council In fulfillment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management August 2013
Stevenage Borough Council
LAQM Progress Report 2013 1
Local Authority Officer
Wesley A Cushing Environmental Health Officer
Department Environmental Health and Licensing
Address Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 1HN
Telephone 01438 242905 e-mail [email protected] Report Reference
number SBC/PR/2013
Date September 2013
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Executive Summary
Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 requires Local Authorities to periodically review and assess local air quality against the air quality objectives contained in the Air Quality Regulations. An Updating and Screening Assessment (USA) was undertaken in 2012. This assessment evaluated the Local Authority’s area and established any areas likely to exceed the air quality objectives. Where Detailed Assessments are not required as a result of the Updating and Screening Assessment, Annual Progress Reports are required to update on changes within the district. Monitoring of nitrogen dioxide and PM10 was undertaken at the continuous monitoring site on Lytton Way. In addition, 22 nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes sites were placed at sites around the borough. This monitoring did not identify any exceedences of the Air Quality Objectives where there was relevant exposure. One diffusion tube on Hitchin road measured levels slightly exceeding the Air Quality Objective, however this was not representative of relevant exposure. Relevant exposure was measured on the façade of three properties along this road and all three measured annual mean concentrations below the Objective. It is considered that there is currently no need to undertake a detailed assessment as the results obtained from 2012 monitoring data do not suggest that there are any relevant exceedences of the Air Quality Objectives in Stevenage Borough.
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction 5
1.1 Description of Local Authority Area 5
1.2 Purpose of Progress Report 5
1.3 Air Quality Objectives 6
1.4 Summary of Previous Review and Assessments 8
2 New Monitoring Data 10
2.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken 10
2.2 Comparison of Monitoring Results with Air Quality Objectives 15
3 New Local Developments 23
4 Local / Regional Air Quality Strategy 24
5 Planning Applications 25
6 Air Quality Planning Policies 26
7 Local Transport Plans and Strategies 27
8 Climate Change Strategies 28
9 Implementation of Action Plans 29
10 Conclusions and Proposed Actions 30
10.1 Conclusions from New Monitoring Data 30
11 References 31
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List of Tables
Table 1.1 Air Quality Objectives included in Regulations for the purpose of LAQM in England
Table 2.1 Details of Automatic Monitoring Sites
Table 2.3 Results of Automatic Monitoring for NO2: Comparison with Annual Mean Objective
Table 2.4 Results of Automatic Monitoring for NO2: Comparison with 1-hour Mean Objective
Table 2.5 Results of NO2 Diffusion Tubes 2012
Table 2.6 Results of NO2 Diffusion Tubes (2008 to 2012)
Table 2.7 Results of Automatic Monitoring for PM10: Comparison with Annual Mean Objective
Table 2.8 Results of Automatic Monitoring for PM10: Comparison with 24-hour Mean Objective
List of Figures
Figure 2.1 Map of Automatic Monitoring Sites
Figure 2.2 Map of Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites
Appendices
Appendix 1 Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) Data
Appendix 2 Monthly diffusion tube results
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1 Introduction
1.1 Description of Local Authority Area
Stevenage is located in Central Hertfordshire. It is a compact urban area covering
25,412 m2 with a population of approximately 80,000 people. Built in the 1950s, it
was Britain’s first new town, and was designed with segregated areas for
commercial, industrial and residential purposes. The main industrial area is located
on the western edge of the town, between the A1(M) and the main London to
Peterborough train line. This segregation of land uses has the effect of reducing
environmental impacts of industry due to the increased distance between the source
of pollution and the receptor. Road traffic is considered a main source of air pollution
in Stevenage as there are a number of busy roads, some of which have residential
properties nearby. Stevenage Borough Council has not declared any Air Quality
Management Areas in the borough to date.
1.2 Purpose of Progress Report
This report fulfils the requirements of 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.
Progress Reports are required in the intervening years between the three-yearly
Updating and Screening Assessment reports. Their purpose is to maintain continuity
in the Local Air Quality Management process.
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They are not intended to be as detailed as Updating and Screening Assessment
Reports, or to require as much effort. However, if the Progress Report identifies the
risk of exceedence of an Air Quality Objective, the Local Authority (LA) should
undertake a Detailed Assessment immediately, and not wait until the next round of
Review and Assessment.
1.3 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 Table 1.1. This table shows the
objectives in units of microgrammes per cubic metre µg/m3 (milligrammes per cubic
metre, mg/m3 for carbon monoxide) with the number of exceedences in each year
that are permitted (where applicable).
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Table 1.1 Air Quality Objectives included in Regulations for the purpose of LAQM in England
Pollutant Air Quality Objective Date to be
achieved by Concentration Measured as
Benzene 16.25 µg/m3 Running annual
mean 31.12.2003
5.00 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2010
1,3-Butadiene 2.25 µg/m3 Running annual
mean 31.12.2003
Carbon monoxide 10 mg/m3 Running 8-hour
mean 31.12.2003
Lead 0.50 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2004
0.25 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2008
Nitrogen dioxide
200 µg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times a
year
1-hour mean 31.12.2005
40 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2005
Particulate Matter (PM10)
(gravimetric)
50 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a
year
24-hour mean 31.12.2004
40 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2004
Sulphur dioxide
350 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more
than 24 times a year
1-hour mean 31.12.2004
125 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year
24-hour mean 31.12.2004
266 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more
than 35 times a year
15-minute mean 31.12.2005
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1.4 Summary of Previous Review and Assessments
Stevenage Borough Council undertook the first round of review and assessment in
2001. It was found that there was no requirement to proceed to the next stage.
An Updating Screening Assessment (USA) was undertaken in 2003 as the first
phase of the second round of review and assessment. This also indicated that there
were no air quality issues within the borough. The progress reports undertaken in
2004 and 2005 concluded that there was no need to proceed to the next stage of the
review and assessment process.
The USA that was undertaken as the first phase of the third round of review and
assessment in 2006 identified one area that required a detailed assessment in
respect of the annual mean for nitrogen dioxide. This area (the A602 Hitchin Road)
was identified through DMRB modelling and had not previously been monitored
through diffusion tubes. A nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube site was set up on Hitchin
Road roadside.
A Detailed Assessment of Hitchin Road was undertaken in 2007. It concluded that
the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide was not likely to be exceeded at the
nearest receptor and that the air quality objective was predicted to be met by 2010.
The results from the diffusion tube monitoring at this site were used in this
assessment.
The Progress report that was undertaken in 2008 indicated that there were slight
rises in levels of nitrogen dioxide at many of the monitoring sites with two sites,
Danestrete and Hitchin Road appearing to exceed the 40µg/m3 target. However it
was assessed that the public were unlikely to be exposed for long periods of time at
Danestrete, and modelling showed the levels of exposure affecting the residents at
Hitchin Road were below the objectives. The council commenced additional
monitoring adjacent to the residents of this road in order to confirm compliance.
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The Progress Reports of 2010 and 2011 found no exceedences of the Air Quality
Objectives, although again the site at Hitchin Road recorded a figure close to the
objective. This was not representative of relevant exposure.
The USA of 2012 identified one exceedence of the Air Quality Objectives, at Hitchin
Road. This site is not considered representative of relevant exposure, and three
other sites on Hitchin Road provided annual mean concentrations below the
objective.
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2 New Monitoring Data
2.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken
2.1.1 Automatic Monitoring Sites
The Automatic Monitoring Station is located on a roadside site at Lytton Way,
Stevenage. It monitors nitrogen dioxide using the chemiluminescent method, and
PM10 using a Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM).
Figure 2.1 Map of Automatic Monitoring Sites
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Table 2.1 Details of Automatic Monitoring Sites
Site Name Site Type X OS
Grid Ref Y OS
Grid Ref Pollutants Monitored In AQMA?
Monitoring Technique
Relevant Exposure?
Distance to kerb of
nearest road
Does this location
represent worst-case exposure?
Stevenage 1 Roadside 523586 223967 NO2 N Chemiluminescent N (110m) 3m Y
Stevenage 1 Roadside 523586 223967 PM10 N TEOM N (110m) 3m Y
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2.1.2 Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites
Diffusion tubes are used to monitor air quality at 22 sites across the borough.
Figure 2.2 Map of Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites
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Table 2.2 Details of Non- Automatic Monitoring Sites
Site Number
Site Name Site Type
X OS Grid Ref
Y OS Grid Ref
Pollutants Monitored
In AQMA?
Is monitoring collocated
with a Continuous
Analyser (Y/N)
Relevant Exposure?
(Y/N with distance
(m) to relevant
exposure)
Distance to kerb of nearest road (m) (N/A if not applicable)
Does this location
represent worst-case
exposure?
1 Town Centre Kerbside 523771 224090 NO2 N N N (102 m) 2 Y
2 Ashdown
Road Background 525832 221495 NO2 N N
Y (14 m) 1.7
3 Monks View Background 524857 222756 NO2 N N Y (9.5 m) 2
4 Bedwell
Crescent Kerbside 524345 224468 NO2 N N
N (20 m) 1
5 Salisbury
Road Background 525373 226985 NO2 N N
Y (6.6 m) 17.5
6 Letchmore
Road Background 523845 225386 NO2 N N
Y (14 m) 1.4
7 High Street Kerbside 523278 225479 NO2 N N N (9 m) 2.3 Y
8 Fishers Green Background 522259 226001 NO2 N N
Y (18 m) 1
9 Magpie
Crescent Kerbside 526652 223438 NO2 N N
N (12.5 m) 1.9
10 Shoreham
Close Kerbside 522075 225568 NO2 N N Y (8 m) 2.1
11 Newlyn Close Kerbside 522126 224862 NO2 N N Y (3.5 m ) 1.7
12 Chadwell
Road Kerbside 522955 223335 NO2 N N
N (25 m) 0.3
13 Whitney
Drive Kerbside 523070 226070 NO2 N N
Y (8 m) 1.9
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Site Number
Site Name Site Type
X OS Grid Ref
Y OS Grid Ref
Pollutants Monitored
In AQMA?
Is monitoring collocated
with a Continuous
Analyser (Y/N)
Relevant Exposure?
(Y/N with distance
(m) to relevant
exposure)
Distance to kerb of nearest road (m) (N/A if not applicable)
Does this location
represent worst-case
exposure?
14 Lytton Way 1 Kerbside 523586 223967 NO2 N Y N (110 m) 3 Y
15 Lytton Way 2 Kerbside 523586 223967 NO2 N Y N (110 m) 3 Y
16 Lytton Way 3 Kerbside 523586 223967 NO2 N Y N(110 m) 3 Y
17 Hitchin Road Kerbside 522700 226550 NO2 N N N (14 m) 2.4 Y
18 Fairlands
Valley Park Background 525425 224183 NO2 N N
N (167 m) 172.5
19 7 Tates Way Kerbside 522700 226570 NO2 N N Y (3 m) 9
20 3 Coreys Mill
Cottages Kerbside 522710 226550 NO2 N N
Y (1 m) 8
21 13 Hitchin
Road Kerbside 523128 225677 NO2 N N
Y (1 m) 16
22 Townsend
Mews Kerbside 523360 224786 NO2 N N
Y (1m) 7.8
Y
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2.2 Comparison of Monitoring Results with Air Quality Objectives
Stevenage Borough Council monitors nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
Due to a fault with the air conditioning unit in June of 2012, the data gained for PM10
was reduced to 92.8% and for NOx, 93.8%.
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Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Automatic Monitoring Data
Table 2.3 Results of Automatic Monitoring for NO2: Comparison with Annual Mean Objective
Site ID Site Type Within
AQMA?
Valid Data Capture for Monitoring Period % a
Valid Data Capture 2012
% b
Annual Mean Concentration (µg/m3)
2008* c 2009* c 2010* c 2011* c 2012 c
SE1 Kerbside N n/a 93.8 29 30 31 29 28
Table 2.4 Results of Automatic Monitoring for NO2: Comparison with 1-hour Mean Objective
Site ID Site Type Within
AQMA?
Valid Data Capture for Monitoring Period % a
Valid Data Capture 2012
% b
Number of Hourly Means > 200µg/m3
2008* c 2009* c 2010* c 2011* c 2012 c
SE1 Kerbside N Y 93.8 0 0 0 0 0
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Diffusion Tube Monitoring Data
Bias adjustment and annualisation calculations can be found at Appendix A During 2012, only one of the nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes recorded an annual mean
greater than the objective of 40 g/m3. The tube at Hitchin Road recorded an annual
mean of 43 g/m3, however this tube does not reflect relevant exposure. The three tubes
that were erected in June 2008 to reflect relevant exposure (on the facades of residential properties along this road – tubes 19, 20 and 21) recorded annual means of 32, 26 and 33 g/m3 respectively.
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Table 2.5 Results of NO2 Diffusion Tubes 2012
Site ID Location Site Type Within
AQMA?
Triplicate or Co-located
Tube
Full Calendar Year Data Capture 2012
(Number of Months or %) a
2012 Annual Mean Concentration (µg/m3) -
Bias Adjustment factor = 1.01 b
1 Danestrete Kerbside N Y 75 26.90
2 Ashdown Road Background N N 100 18.70
3 Monks View Background N N 100 22.55
4 Bedwell Crescent Kerbside N N 91.67 19.31
5 Salisbury Road Background N N 100 15.68
6 Letchmore Road Background N N 100 22.24
7 High Street Kerbside N N 91.67 24.62
8 Fishers Green Background N N 100 21.38
9 Magpie Crescent Kerbside N N 83.33 25.28
10 Shoreham Close Kerbside N N 100 30.18
11 Newlyn Close Kerbside N N 83.33 18.74
12 Chadwell Road Kerbside N N 100 19.63
13 Whitney Drive Kerbside N N 100 27.14
14 Lytton Way 1 Kerbside N Y 100 32.33
15 Lytton Way 2 Kerbside N Y 83.33 26.45
16 Lytton Way 3 Kerbside N Y 100 32.94
17 Hitchin Road Kerbside N N 100 43.32
18 Fairlands Valley Park Background N N 100 16.96
19 7 Tates Way Kerbside N N 100 39.69
20 3 Coreys Mill Lane Kerbside N N 100 35.86
21 13 Hitchin Road Kerbside N N 100 25.99
22 Townsend Mews Kerbside N N 100 25.16
In bold, exceedence of the NO2 annual mean AQS objective of 40µg/m3.
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Table 2.6 Results of NO2 Diffusion Tubes (2008 to 2012)
Site ID Site Name Site Type Within
AQMA?
Annual Mean Concentration (µg/m3) - Adjusted for Bias a
2008 (Bias = 0.93)
2009 (Bias = 0.93)
2010 (Bias = 0.93)
2011 (Bias = 0.93)
2012 (Bias Adjustment
Factor = 1.01)
1 Town Centre Kerbside N 33.53 29.56 32.1 33.93 26.90 2 Ashdown Road Background N 18.47 16.53 16.1 18.05 18.70 3 Monks View Background N 23.29 20.38 18.9 23.02 22.55
4 Bedwell Crescent Kerbside N 22.37 19.07 19.3 20.69 19.31
5 Salisbury Road Background N 19.10* 14.70 13.4 15.67 15.68
6 Letchmore Road Background N 25.62* 18.08 16.8 17.53 22.24 7 High Street Kerbside N 31.84* 26.93 28.8 30.53 24.62 8 Fishers Green Background N 22.60 18.33 19.6 21.24 21.38
9 Magpie Crescent Kerbside N 25.49 24.16 23.7 24.05 25.28
10 Shoreham Close Kerbside N 31.06 25.07 26.0 28.25 30.18 11 Newlyn Close Kerbside N 23.21 20.08 19.8 21.28 18.74 12 Chadwell Road Kerbside N 20.63 16.94 19.4 19.18 19.63
13 Whitney Drive Kerbside N 24.48 21.01 20.0 23.29 27.14
14/15/16 Lytton Way Kerbside N 34.11 29.62 30.3 33.1 30.57
17 Hitchin Road Kerbside N 45.51 39.92 41.5 46.20 43.32
18 Fairlands Valley
Park Background N 14.72* 14.76 15.4
18.20 16.96 19 7 Tates Way Kerbside N 32.81* 28.55 30.9 33.87 39.69
20 3 Coreys Mill
Cottages Kerbside N 31.12* 28.64 29.8
33.32 35.86 21 13 Hitchin Road Kerbside N 26.86* 24.33 24.5 27.57 25.99
22 Townsend Mews Kerbside N n/a 21.81 25.9 19.41 25.16
In bold, exceedence of the NO2 annual mean AQS objective of 40µg/m3
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2.2.1 Particulate Matter (PM10)
Stevenage Borough Council monitors PM10 at its Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Station on Lytton Way, using a TEOM monitor. This Air Quality Monitoring Station is not representative of relevant exposure. Correction of TEOM data The Volatile Correction Model (VCM) has been applied to all results obtained from the TEOM at Lytton Way (see Appendix A).
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Table 2.7 Results of Automatic Monitoring for PM10: Comparison with Annual Mean Objective
Site ID Site Type Within
AQMA?
Valid Data Capture for Monitoring Period % a
Valid Data Capture 2012 % b
Confirm Gravimetric Equivalent (Y or N/A)
Annual Mean Concentration (µg/m3)
2008* c 2009* c 2010* c 2011* c 2012 c
SE1 Roadside N N/A Y Y 21.4 20.7 21.4 17.0 22.0
Table 2.8 Results of Automatic Monitoring for PM10: Comparison with 24-hour Mean Objective
Site ID Site Type Within
AQMA?
Valid Data Capture for Monitoring Period % a
Valid Data Capture 2012 % b
Confirm Gravimetric Equivalent (Y or N/A)
Number of Daily Means > 50µg/m3
2008* c 2009* c 2010* c 2011* c 2012 c
SE1 Roadside N n/a 92.8 Y 8 3 0 14 8
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2.2.2 Summary of Compliance with AQS Objectives
Stevenage Borough Council has examined the results from monitoring in the
borough. Concentrations are all below the objectives, therefore there is no need to
proceed to a Detailed Assessment.
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3 New Local Developments
Stevenage Borough Council confirms that there are no new or newly identified local
developments which may have an impact on air quality within the Local Authority
area.
Stevenage Borough Council confirms that all the following have been considered:
Road traffic sources
Other transport sources
Industrial sources
Commercial and domestic sources
New developments with fugitive or uncontrolled sources.
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4 Local / Regional Air Quality Strategy
Stevenage Borough Council published its Air Quality Strategy in 2006 following consultation with interested parties. This Strategy is available from the Stevenage Borough Council Website, and outlines the Council’s strategic approach to Air Quality. Many of the objectives set out in the strategy have been met, although others are no longer relevant. It is intended that the Strategy be reviewed and updated.
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5 Planning Applications
There are no major developments likely to have a significant impact on air quality.
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6 Air Quality Planning Policies
Stevenage Borough Council adopted the Stevenage District Plan (2nd Review) in 2004. This plan is in the process of being replaced by a Local Development Framework (LDF) which is a series of documents setting out the statutory development and planning framework for Stevenage. Policies in the District Plan and the emerging LDF direct the promotion of sustainable transport systems, renewable energies and the restriction of hazardous installations. Until such time as the LDF is adopted, the District Plan will remain in effect.
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7 Local Transport Plans and Strategies
Hertfordshire County Council have produced a Local Transport Plan, and are currently working in joint partnership with Stevenage Borough Council to develop an Urban Transport Plan (UTP) for Stevenage. The aim of the UTP is to develop a range of transport schemes for all modes of travel that will solve existing problems and prepare Stevenage for future potential growth. It contains policies relating to walking, cycling and passenger transport in addition to making improvements to infrastructure. The Council has specific strategies relating to walking and cycling within the borough. The Cycling strategy was published in 2002, and is currently under review. In addition to this, a Green Transport plan is currently in draft form. Local strategies aim to support the county wide Local Transport Plan, and provide a holistic approach to improving the Borough’s Carbon Footprint.
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8 Climate Change Strategies
Stevenage Borough Council published its climate change strategy in May 2009. This document is available on the Council’s website.
A combination of policies aims to reduce our impact on climate change in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol. The continuous monitoring of indicators associated with our policies is reported in our Annual Monitoring Report and Strategic Environmental Assessment. These include indicators such as the number of air quality management areas, nitrogen dioxide levels and particulate levels in the urban area. By monitoring these indicators we are able to assess whether our policies are having a positive effect on air quality and climate change.
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9 Implementation of Action Plans
Stevenage Borough Council has not identified any areas of relevant exposure that have exceeded the National Air Quality Objectives and has therefore not been required to declare an Air Quality Management Area. As a result it has not had to develop an Action Plan to improve Air Quality.
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10 Conclusions and Proposed Actions
10.1 Conclusions from New Monitoring Data
The results obtained from the Continuous Air Quality Monitoring station over 2012 show that the levels of nitrogen dioxide were broadly comparable with previous years. The levels of PM10 recorded at this site were also broadly comparable, being well below the air quality objective. Results obtained from nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube monitoring do not exceed the Air Quality Objectives at any points of relevant exposure. The bias adjustment factors calculated from local and national co-location studies affect the degree to which the results are below this objective, with the national co-location study producing less favourable results. Only one site exceeds the air quality objective, that at Hitchin Road, a site judged to exhibit no relevant exposure. The three nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes that were erected mid-2008 to measure relevant exposure along Hitchin Road, have continued to show that levels at this
point are below the Air Quality Objective of 40 g/m3. As a result of this monitoring, it can be concluded that there is currently no requirement for detailed assessment or the declaration of an Air Quality Management Area.
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11 References
1. Part IV of Environment Act 1995: Local Air Quality Management. Technical Guidance LAQM.TG (09). Defra, February 2009.
2. The Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 (Statutory Instrument 2000 No. 928), March 2000.
3. The Air Quality Strategy.for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. July 2007. Volume 1 and 2, ISBN 978-0-171692-5
4. The Air Quality Amendment Regulations 2002, ISBN 0 11061468 2.
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Appendices
Appendix A: Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) Data
Appendix B: Monthly diffusion tube results
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Appendix A: QA:QC Data
Factor from Local Co-location Studies (if available)
Local Co-location study: Lytton Road, Stevenage
Roadside site
Local bias adjustment factor 0.86
Diffusion Tube Bias Adjustment Factors
Collated Bias Adjustment Factor: For Gradko tubes, 50% TEA in Acetone, 2011 (version 03/12 of the NO2 tube bias adjustment factor spreadsheet) = 1.01
Discussion of Choice of Factor to Use
A local bias adjustment factor was available for use, but the national figure was used
as this takes account of variations in sampling and reporting. It is more conservative
than the local factor.
PM Monitoring Adjustment
The volatile correction model (VCM) has been used to correct the data. The model
allows the correction of TEOM measurements for the loss of volatile components of
particulate matter that occur due to the high sampling temperatures employed by this
instrument. The resulting corrected measurements have been demonstrated as
equal to the gravimetric equivalent. The Environmental Research Group at Kings
College London has applied the correction model to all PM10 data listed in this
document.
QA/QC of automatic monitoring
The data from our Air Quality Monitoring Station at Lytton Road Stevenage is ratified
up to September 2011 by the Environmental Research Group (ERG) to the HBAQN
network standard. From September 2011, AQDM have been fulfilling the contract.
The data undergoes ‘daily sensibility’ checks 365 days per year, it is then further
ratified on a monthly basis, taking both the two weekly LSO and engineer visits into
account. It is reviewed again as an annual dataset at the end of the year when linear
scaling processes are applied to the data. The data is compared to data collected
from other local network monitoring sites.
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The analysers are covered by a service and maintenance contract with Supporting U.
This covers calibration checks, flow and leak checks, cleaning of components,
analyser diagnostic checks and replacement of faulty components and consumables.
The services are carried out on a twice yearly frequency.
All gases used are certified and carry certificates as confirmation as supplied with the
gas by the supplier.
Automatic measurements of PM10 were made using the Tapered Element Oscillating
Microbalance (TEOM) method. Measurements of NOX used were made using the
chemiluminescent method with automatic equipment subject to fortnightly calibration
traceable to National Metrological Standards. All measurements were logged by the
instruments themselves and collected by ERG and AQDM each hour.
Measurements from the monitoring site were validated using the most up to date
calibration factors and publicly disseminated in near real time on the HBAQN web
page formerly www.hertsbedsair.org.uk, now http://www.hertsbedsair.net/.
A final measurement data set to the end of 2012 was produced following
retrospective ratification of the measurements using procedures, which exceed the
requirements detailed in LAQM TG09 (DEFRA, 2009). During ratification information
from regular calibrations, audits and daily manual validation were used to establish
an operational and calibration history of the instruments and the pollution
measurements were corrected to establish traceability to National Metrological
Standards. Details of the monitoring site and the final dataset can be found at
http://www.hertsbedsair.net/.
QA/QC of diffusion tube monitoring
Stevenage Borough Council obtains all nitrogen dioxide tubes from Gradko
International Ltd., who are also responsible for their analysis. The preparation used is
50% T.E.A. in acetone.
In addition, the lab has for many years participated in both the AEA Network Field
Inter-comparison Exercise and WASP scheme.
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Data Capture
% Annual Average
Collated bias
adjusted SBC Code Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1 Town Centre 40 44 38 35
27 31 33 40 32 75 26.63 26.90
Gunnels Wood Road x x x x x x x x x x x x
2 Ashdown Road 21 22 24 18 12 10 13 15 17 19 26 26 100 18.52 18.70
3 Monks View 26 31 27 20 14 14 17 19 21 25 29 25 100 22.33 22.55
4 Bedwell Crescent 26 29 18 14 13 16 18 19 24 30 24 92 19.12 19.31
5 Salisbury Road 19 19 20 16 9 10 11 13 13 17 19 20 100 15.53 15.68
6 Letchmore Road 27 24 25 33 11 12 17 20 17 21 32 25 100 22.02 22.24
7 High Street 35 37 18 27 24 27 26 27 35
36 92 24.38 24.62
Control not sited
8 Fishers Green 22 27 29 22 16 14 15 18 15 23 30 24 100 21.17 21.38
9 Magpie Crescent 27 27 31 35 18
21 25 27 28 31 29 83 25.03 25.28
10 Shoreham Close 34 37 38 34 20 22 24 25 28 27 37 33 100 29.88 30.18
11 Newlyn Close 25 25 27 19 14
16 18 20 29 28 83 18.55 18.74
12 Chadwell Road 20 27 28 15 22 14 13 12 14 22 25 21 100 19.44 19.63
13 Whitney Drive 28 30 31 50 14 17 19 22 23 26 35 28 100 26.87 27.14
14 Lytton Way 1 36 37 48 21 21 25 28 25 33 31 41 37 100 32.01 32.33
15 Lytton Way 2 41 41 39 28 20 23 28 34 30 32
83 26.18 26.45
16 Lytton Way 3 33 43 43 27 22 22 29 27 31 33 41 40 100 32.62 32.94
17 Hitchin Road 57 62 30 12 45 31 43 44 48 49 52 42 100 42.90 43.32
18 Fairlands Valley Park 21 25 20 12 9 8 12 13 15 18 25 24 100 16.79 16.96
19 7 Tates Way 45 42 45 39 35 39 35 33 38 38 43 40 100 39.30 39.69
20 3 Coreys Mill Cottages 39 40 40 33 28 32 31 31 37 35 40 40 100 35.50 35.86
21 13 Hitchin Road 28 30 34 25 1 22 25 28 26 28 33 28 100 25.74 25.99
22 Townsend Mews 23 28 31 25 25 18 19 23 24 28 29 26 100 24.91 25.16
NOX Tube Results For Stevenage Borough Council January - December 2012
Stevenage Borough Council
LAQM Progress Report 2013 36