Pollution control - air quality

Air Quality in Exeter

Air Quality

What is air quality and why does it matter to me?

Air quality is a measure of how good our air quality is in terms of the type and quantity of pollutants contained within it. Poor air quality can affect peoples' health, causing problems such as heart disease and breathing problems. Up to 24,000 people per year die prematurely because of its effects (The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Working Together for Clean Air.)

Certain processes which emit undesirable gases into the air, including vehicle respraying garages, petrol stations and animal by-product rendering plants, have to be authorised to check they comply with the regulations.

What is being done nationally to tackle air quality?

Clean air that is fit to breathe is one of the key factors required to deliver a safe environment for both current and future generations. The UK Sustainable Development Strategy "A Better Quality of Life" sets out a national vision for delivering a sustainable environment. A National Air Quality Strategy has also been produced, which sets out the Government's plans to improve and protect ambient air quality, as part of the creation of a sustainable environment.

The Government has challenged local authorities under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to assess and manage their air quality. National health-based standards and objectives have been published to allow air quality to be assessed and to drive forward management policies.

What you can expect from Exeter City Council

We will:

• Deal with applications for authorisation from businesses within 4 months
• Maintain a register of authorised premises
• Monitor and review air quality in the city, recording the levels of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, oxides of nitrogen and small particles. Further information is available on Local air quality management
• Identify areas unlikely to meet national air quality standards. Further information is available on Local air quality management
• Make sure air quality considerations are taken into account in land use planning and traffic management decisions
• Issue daily air quality reports

Nitrogen dioxide levels are monitored at a number of sites along the main routes into the city. Exeter's annual average levels can be found in reports.

Ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, particles and nitrogen dioxide are continuously monitored in Queen Street, Exeter.

Exeter's air quality information for the UK is available at on the Air Quality Archive site below - this lists all of the sites on the network.

Unpleasant Odours

If you have recently noticed an unpleasant odour and feel that it needs to be reported to Environmental Health, please use the Online eForm below:

Online eForm

• Report an environmental health issue