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AIR QUALITY
Clean air is essential to our health and well-being. Air quality in Northern Ireland is improving. Overall, the air we breathe is cleaner today than at any time since before the industrial revolution. This has been achieved through tighter controls on emissions of pollutants from industry, transport and domestic sources. Whilst we do not experience today the typical smogs that were once commonplace during the 1950's and 1960's, we do face new challenges.
The aim of the Environmental Protection Service is to prevent and control air pollution and to deliver local air quality management.
The main areas of work include:
- Local Air Quality Management
- Monitoring air quality at a number of locations, using automatic monitoring equipment and passive diffusion tubes
- Monitoring and carrying out enforcement duties within our smoke control areas
- Investigating complaints relating to statutory nuisance arising from the burning of materials and emissions of dark smoke from factories
- Regulation of emissions to air from installations designated for Council control under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (NI) 2003
- Promoting air quality through educational and awareness raising initiatives
Local Air Quality Management
The Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 requires Councils to periodically review and assess local air quality with reference to specific harmful pollutants identified within the governments National Air Quality Strategy. This process, known as local air quality management, involves the assessment of existing and future levels of pollutants against national air quality objectives.
The pollutants specified within the National Air Quality Strategy for LAQM are:
- Benzene
- 1-3 butadiene
- Lead
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Particulates (PM10)
- Sulphur dioxide
If a Council finds any places where the objectives are not likely to be achieved, it must declare an Air Quality Management area (AQMA) there. It must then produce an air quality action plan detailing the actions that will be taken to reach the relevant air quality objective.
The Council contains an AQMA due to the emissions of sulphur dioxide from domestic coal burning. The AQMA came into effect on 14 October 2004.
 Antrim Borough Council's Air Quality Action Plan, which was launched in July 2007 considers a range of options to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide within the AQMA.
Antrim Borough Council has been assessing the levels of the pollutants identified by the government since 2003. Our most recent Progress Report found that outside the AQMA the air quality objectives for all the prescribed pollutants were being met throughout the Borough.
Air Quality Monitoring
The Council has an air quality monitoring site at Greystone which monitors sulphur dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide is also monitored at a number of roadside locations. Further information regarding air quality monitoring throughout Northern Ireland, including data from the Greystone site can be obtained by accessing the Northern Ireland Air Quality website.
Smoke Control
Smoke is the collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material is burnt. The main source of smoke is household chimneys. When you burn ordinary household coal you cannot avoid creating smoke composed mainly of soot and tar.
In addition to creating dirt, blackening buildings, reducing visibility and damaging many materials, smoke adversely affects health. People living where the air is smoky are more likely to suffer from bronchitis and other chest complaints.
Since 1964 legislation has been in place enabling councils to declare Smoke Control Areas. Antrim declared a number of Smoke Control Areas in Antrim town in the 1970's. If you live within a Smoke Control Area it is illegal to burn unauthorised fuels such as household coal, slack, turf or wood. If you wish to light a fire you should ensure that you only burn an approved smokeless fuel.
Releated documents
Related websites
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