Air pollution over a city

In England all councils have to protect and improve the quality of the air we breathe.  For air quality there are Acts (Laws) which allow us to protect the air.

The whole of the Doncaster borough is in a smoke control area this means:

• We can’t burn coal unless using a specially agreed piece of equipment

• We aren’t allowed to deliver coal to a domestic property

• We can’t allow dark smoke from commercial premises

If we break these rules fines can be given of between £1000 and £20000.

In part IV (4) of this Act, councils must check the air quality within their area.

The law called for the production of the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS). In 1997 the NAQS was written and has been re-written most recently in 2007 with new information.

The NAQS lists pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Each pollutant has to meet certain levels called objectives. The objectives are based on the level that we believe it is acceptable for the pollutant to reach before becoming harmful to our health.

Councils must undertake a review and assessment of the air quality in their area to identify places where the objectives are unlikely to be met.

To control the pollutants that may be created by factories and industrial sites the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) require certain businesses to apply for a permit. A permit gives them conditions that they have to follow to be allowed to carry on working. This permit may detail pollution levels allowed from the site and what monitoring may be needed.

These regulations set the levels detailed in the NAQS into law. There are 7 pollutants listed all with an objective level set and a date by which time the levels should be met.