Air Quality Review and Assessment
Air Quality Review and Assessment
September 2005
The Environment Act 1995 requires every local authority in England and Wales to assess current and future air pollution levels in the area against health based objectives specified in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000, shown in table 1. The review was conducted in three stages and involved the collation of the emissions data from industry, transport and domestic sources to form an Emissions Inventory for Greater Manchester (EMIGMA). Information from EMIGMA was then combined with weather data and input into modelling software to predict air quality in the future. Where the review concluded that air quality targets were likely to be exceeded the local council must, by law, declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
In Tameside the review and assessment identified nitrogen dioxide and particulates as the two pollutants unlikely to meet the air quality objectives. The main source of both these pollutants is motor vehicle exhausts.
Tameside declared an AQMA in June 2001, following a consultation period during which residents of the Borough were asked for their opinions on both the process and the areas to be declared.
It has now been 3 years since we first declared the AQMAs and following a further review and assessment and consultation period we have amended its boundaries. This is to take into account new information and guidance from central government as well as changes that have occurred since we undertook the first review. These changes include refinements in the modelling software, the opening of new roads, e.g. The Ashton Northern Bypass, the building of new houses and improvements in vehicle and fuel technology.
The new AQMA is shown in Figure 1 61.37 KB 
A more detailed map can be viewed on our interactive Tameside Maps.
In addition to declaring new AQMAs, the Greater Manchester authorities have also produced an Air Quality Action Plan, designed to reduce pollution across the county. Further details of the plan can be found at www.mapac.org.uk 
. Or for a written copy of the plan please use the contact details below.
Table 1: Air Quality Objective
|
Pollutant |
Objective Concentration as |
Measured |
Date to be achieved by |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Benzene |
16.25µg/m 3 (5ppb) |
Running annual mean |
31 December 2003 |
|
1,3 Butadiene |
2.25µg/m 3 (1ppb) |
Running annual mean |
31 December 2003 |
|
Carbon Monoxide |
11.6µg/m 3 (10ppm) |
Running annual mean |
31 December 2003 |
|
Lead |
0.5µg/m 3 |
Annual mean |
31 December 2004 |
|
0.25µg/m 3 |
Annual mean |
31 December 2008 |
|
|
Nitrogen Dioxide |
200µg/m 3 (105ppb) not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year |
1 hour mean |
31 December 2005 |
|
40µg/m 3 (21 ppb) |
Annual mean |
31 December 2005 |
|
|
Particles (PM 10) |
50µg/m 3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year |
24 hour mean |
31 December 2004 |
|
40µg/m 3 |
Annual mean |
31 December 2004 |
|
|
Sulphur Dioxide |
350µg/m 3 (132ppb) not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year |
1 hour mean |
31 December 2004 |
|
125µg/m 3 (47ppb) not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year |
24 hour mean |
31 December 2004 |
|
|
266µg/m 3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year |
15 minute mean |
31 December 2005 |
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
 Send us a Message |
 Environmental Protection Service Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne OL6 6DL |
 0161 342 2389
|
|
 0161 342 2273
|
|
