This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
New targets to cut air pollution
02/04/2002
Draft regulations introducing tough new targets for cutting air pollution have been laid before the Scottish Parliament.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Air Quality (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2002, which were placed before the Scottish Parliament last Thursday (28 March) will tighten objectives for three of the eight pollutants in the Air Quality Strategy:
* Benzene
* Carbon monoxide and
* Particles.
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development Allan Wilson said:
"Air quality in Scotland is generally good, but the latest evidence from our health experts shows that we cannot afford to be complacent.
"We recognise the detrimental effects of air pollution, especially its impact on the most vulnerable members of society and take this very seriously. The tough new objectives for benzene, carbon monoxide and particles announced today signal the Executive's determination to continue delivering cuts in air pollution levels."
The new benzene and particles objectives are long term - to be achieved by the end of 2010 - and supplement the current objectives to be achieved by the end of 2003 and 2004 respectively. The new objective for carbon monoxide replaces the current one, to be achieved by the end of 2003.
The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, originally published in 1997, was revised in 2000. The Strategy sets out objectives for eight pollutants of particular concern for human health and target dates for achieving them.
In September 2001 the Scottish Executive, together with DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the other devolved administrations, published a consultation paper proposing tighter objectives for benzene, carbon monoxide and particles, and a new objective for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These proposals were the same throughout the UK except for particles, where a tougher particles objective was proposed for Scotland than elsewhere, because air quality is generally better than in other parts of the UK. A less stringent objective was proposed for London for the opposite reason. In summary, the proposals were:
1.1.1
Present objective
Proposed objective
Particles (PM10)
UK
24-hour mean of 50 (g/m3 not exceed more than 35 times a year
annual mean of 40(g/m3 both to be met by end of 2004
Scotland
24-hour mean of 50 (g/m3 not exceed more than 7 times a year
annual mean of 18(g/m3 both to be met by end of 2010
UK (apart from London & Scotland)
24-hour mean of 50 (g/m3 not exceed more than 7 times a year
annual mean of 20(g/m3 both to be met by end of 2010
London
24-hour mean of 50 (g/m3 not exceed more than 10-14 times a year
annual mean of 23-25 (g/m3 with the aim of this being met by 2010
It is also proposed that the Mayor and London local authorities should work towards a provisional annual mean of 20?g/m3 after 2010, with the aim of achieving it by 2015 where cost effective and proportionate local action can be identified
Benzene
16.25 (g/m3 (5ppb) as running annual mean to be met by end of 2003
3.25 (g/m3(1ppb) as running annual mean to be met by end of 2010
Carbon monoxide
11.6 mg/m3 (10ppb) as a running 8-hour mean to be met by end of 2003
10 mg/m3 (8.6ppb) as a running 8-hour mean to be met by end of 2003
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
0.25 ng/m3 as annual average mean to be met by end of 2010
The consultation finished in December. 26 responses were received in Scotland and the overall message was one of support for the proposals. On this basis the Executive now proposes to introduce these new objectives, with the exception of PAHs and subject to the approval of Parliament, through the Air Quality (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2002. Separate arrangements will be made in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
At the core of the Strategy is a requirement for local authorities to review and assess air quality in their areas. Where this exercise shows that any of the objectives in the Strategy are unlikely to be met by the prescribed dates, the authority must declare an Air Quality Management Area and draw up an action plan outlining how they intend to work towards the objectives.