Air quality

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airTEXT - air pollution forecast and alert system

The Government's national air quality strategy, launched in 2000, sets national air quality standards and objectives. It lists eight key pollutants for which targets must be achieved by specific deadline dates ranging from the end of 2003 to the end of 2010.

It places a statutory duty on every local authority to carry out a review and assessment of current levels of air pollution and to predict whether the national objectives will be met.

Tower Hamlets Council completed its first review and assessment in January 2000. This determined that the national air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM10) would not be met within Tower Hamlets by the relevant deadlines, and identified that a large amount of the pollution in Tower Hamlets comes from vehicle emissions.

Other important sources of air pollution are from central heating systems and construction sites. In December 2000, the borough was therefore declared an Air Quality Management Area.

In accordance with its statutory obligation, the council published its Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) in December 2003. This details the efforts that are being, and will be, made locally and in partnership with others to deliver measurable improvements in air quality that can be sustained for future years.

Further Information

For further information on any aspect of Air Quality please contact the Environmental Health department between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.