Brentwood ASR 2017
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Brentwood Borough Council 2017 Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR) In fulfilment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management November, 2017 LAQM Annual Status Report 2017 Brentwood Borough Council Local Authority David Carter Officer Department Environmental Health & Enforcement Council Offices Ingrave Road Address Brentwood Essex CM15 8AY Telephone 01277 312509 E-mail [email protected] Report Reference BRE/ASR2017 number Date 14th November 2017 Written by Tim Savage Scientific Team Public Health & Protection Services Chelmsford City Council Duke Street Chelmsford Essex CM1 1JE LAQM Annual Status Report 2017 Brentwood Borough Council Executive Summary: Air Quality in Brentwood The 2017 Annual Status Report is designed to provide the public with information relating to local air quality in Brentwood, to fulfil Brentwood Borough Council’s statutory duty to review and assess air quality within its area, and to determine whether or not the air quality objectives are likely to be achieved. The report reviews Brentwood’s air quality monitoring from 2016 and has found no exceedances of the annual mean objective for Nitrogen Dioxide at relevant exposure. Air Quality in Brentwood Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts. It is recognised as a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer. Additionally, air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable in society: children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions. There is also often a strong correlation with equalities issues, because areas with poor air quality are also often the less affluent areas1,2. The annual health cost to society of the impacts of particulate matter alone in the UK is estimated to be around £16 billion3. The Borough of Brentwood is situated in the southwest of Essex and is a pleasant, busy town situated within the Metropolitan Green Belt. Apart from its urban heart, the Borough of Brentwood has about 3,000 acres (about 1,215 hectares) of woodland, yet it is only 18 miles from Central London. The main source of air pollution in Brentwood is road traffic emissions for major roads, notably the M25, A12, A127, A128, A1023 and A129. Brentwood Borough Council has declared seven Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) due to exceedances of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) which are detailed in Table 2.1. Monitoring and assessment of air quality has identified that four of these AQMA have been compliant with the Air Quality Objectives for a number of years and can be revoked. In 2016, the Council consulted on these changes and undertook revocation with the changes taking place from January 2017. 1 Environmental equity, air quality, socioeconomic status and respiratory health, 2010 2 Air quality and social deprivation in the UK: an environmental inequalities analysis, 2006 3 Defra. Abatement cost guidance for valuing changes in air quality, May 2013 i LAQM Annual Status Report 2017 Brentwood Borough Council Actions to Improve Air Quality In July 2016, the Council replaced two of its diesel Street Scene vehicles with electric vans and installed two charging points at the depot. The Council's Chair of the Environment and Housing Management Committee, Councillor Chris Hossack, said: “With zero emissions, low fuel costs, low servicing and maintenance costs all potentially saving us roughly £20,000 over their lifetime - makes it a no-brainer for us to have replaced our old vans with the new electric vehicles. An added benefit to our residents is how quiet they are – which I’m sure will be appreciated in the early hours of the morning”. Figure i.1 – Brentwood Council Electric Vehicles Image from https://www.essex-tv.co.uk/brentwood-council-switch-electric-vans/ Conclusions and Priorities Analysis of air quality monitoring data has identified that for the second year running, there have been no exceedances of the air quality objectives at relevant exposure in the Brentwood Borough Council administrative area. Four of the Air Quality Management Areas have been revoked with three still in effect. Measured air quality in these three areas is still borderline with the Air Quality Objectives however the long-term trend identified in Figure A.1 is an improvement in air quality. ii LAQM Annual Status Report 2017 Brentwood Borough Council Local Engagement and How to get Involved Brentwood Borough Council is a member of the Essex Air Quality consortium. The purpose of Essex Air is to promote improvements in air quality related issues. The Essex Air web site provides a daily forecast of air pollution. Also, the @EssexAir twitter feed provides localised weekly air pollution forecasts. Figure i.2 - Essex Air Twitter Air Quality Notifications Links to Defra recommended actions and health advice are provided when air pollution is likely to be moderate or higher. This will enable those with heart or lung conditions, or other breathing problems to make informed judgements about their levels of activity or exposure. The Essex Air twitter also promotes the DVSA service for reporting smoky lorries or buses. Particulate matter is usually not visible but when poorly maintained diesel engines can produce visible particles, appearing as smoke. Fine particles have an adverse effect on human health, particularly among those with respiratory and cardiovascular problem. iii LAQM Annual Status Report 2017 Brentwood Borough Council Figure i.3 - Essex Air Reporting Smoky Vehicle Tweets Brentwood Borough Council is affiliated with the London Air Quality Network which publishes air quality data online, and provides an information resource for air pollution and health and smartphone apps for broadcasting air quality notifications. Essex County Council has worked closely with Liftshare to develop the Essex Car Share scheme. This operates across Brentwood and provides commuters with a car sharing service which could cut congestion and air pollution whilst saving money. iv LAQM Annual Status Report 2017 Brentwood Borough Council Table of Contents Executive Summary: Air Quality in Brentwood ...................................................... i Air Quality in Brentwood ..................................................................................................... i Actions to Improve Air Quality ............................................................................................ ii Conclusions and Priorities ................................................................................................. ii Local Engagement and How to get Involved ..................................................................... iii 1 Local Air Quality Management ........................................................................ 1 2 Actions to Improve Air Quality ........................................................................ 2 2.1 Air Quality Management Areas .............................................................................. 2 2.2 Progress and Impact of Measures to address Air Quality in Brentwood ................. 4 2.3 PM2.5 – Local Authority Approach to Reducing Emissions and/or Concentrations.................................................................................................................. 6 3 Air Quality Monitoring Data and Comparison with Air Quality Objectives and National Compliance ...................................................................... 7 3.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken ...................................................................... 7 3.1.1 Automatic Monitoring Sites ............................................................................................ 7 3.1.2 Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites..................................................................................... 7 3.2 Individual Pollutants .............................................................................................. 7 3.2.1 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)................................................................................................... 7 Appendix A: Monitoring Results ........................................................................... 10 Appendix B: Full Monthly Diffusion Tube Results for 2016 ................................ 19 Appendix C: Supporting Technical Information / Air Quality Monitoring Data QA/QC ............................................................................................................. 22 Appendix D: Map(s) of Monitoring Locations and AQMAs ................................. 24 Appendix E: Summary of Air Quality Objectives in England .............................. 30 Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................. 31 References .............................................................................................................. 32 v LAQM Annual Status Report 2017 Brentwood Borough Council List of Tables Table 2.1 – Declared Air Quality Management Areas .................................................. 2 Table 2.2 – Revoked Air Quality Management Areas .................................................. 3 Table 2.3 – Progress on Measures to Improve Air Quality .......................................... 5 Table 3.1 - Estimated Annual Mean where exceedances have been measured (at receptor) ..................................................................................................... 8 Table A.1 - Details of Automatic Monitoring Sites ...................................................... 10 Table A.2 - Details of Non-Automatic