NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME

BOROUGH COUNCIL

Air Quality Review and Assessment

Second Round

Updating and Screening Assessment

May 2003

NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME

BOROUGH COUNCIL

COMMUNITY SERVICES

A.H. Hudson, MSc, BSc, MBA, MCIEH, MCIWM, Head of Community Services, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Civic Offices, Merrial Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, , ST5 2AG

DB FOREWORD

In the past consultation with residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme has revealed that local people are concerned about air quality and the implications for their health. Air pollution remains an important local issue. Recently “Enforcement” of legislation has been found to be a high priority for local people and undoubtedly enforcement of Environment

Protection legislation has a key part to play in maintaining environmental quality.

The Council has monitored air quality over a long period as part of the

National Survey of Smoke and Sulphur Dioxide and a nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube survey has been implemented to detect NOX levels. In addition “real time analysis” of air pollution has been carried out in the

Borough to provide valuable data on CO, SO 2, NOX and suspended

particulate levels.

In the first stage of “Air Quality Review” the Government asked for air quality reviews to be “put on the fast track” and the Council responded by completing the studies within the specified deadlines. A great deal of detailed technical and scientific work was undertaken with regard to the

Stage Two and Three Reviews. These studies revealed elevated concentrations of key pollutants in some areas notably NOX. The need to continue air pollution monitoring programmes was also identified.

Links between air quality and other environmental issues have been identified at the national policy level, in particular the global issue of

“climate change” is related to pollutant emissions.

This document is printed on 100% recycled paper

The Council has continued to work in partnership, particularly at the

County level through the Air Quality Forum and sees this as a vital part of our approach to addressing air quality issues in the future.

This report the “Updating and Screening Assessment” identifies changes from the first round of review and assessment and provides explanations of the conclusions reached. Updated traffic data has been incorporated along with information on the major industrial sources and domestic sources. This includes domestic coal burning in areas outside the completed smoke control programme i.e. in the rural areas such as

Loggerheads, Bignall End, Audley, Madeley and Betley.

Undertaking such a complex and detailed study is a particularly important exercise which has inevitably placed additional pressure on staff in the

Environmental Health Division of Community Services and I would like to again place on record my thanks and appreciation for all their hard work in completing this latest Updating and Screening Assessment and compiling this document.

Alan H Hudson

Head of Community Services

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

Staffordshire

This document is printed on 100% recycled paper CONTENTS

Page

Executive Summary 1 1. The Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme 2 2. The Air Quality Strategy for , Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 5 3. Local Air Quality Assessment 8 4. Benzene 11 5. 1,3-butadiene 19 6. Carbon Monoxide 24 7. Lead 28 8. Nitrogen Dioxide 32

9. PM 10 44 10. Sulphur Dioxide 55 11. Conclusions 60

Appendix A – Air Quality Objectives 61 Appendix B – Part A and part B processes 62 Appendix C – Nitrogen dioxide monitoring results 68 Appendix D – Glossary of terms and abbreviations 71

This document is printed on 100% recycled paper EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Clean air is an essential ingredient of a good quality of life. People have a right to expect that the air they breathe will not harm them. In the past air pollution was obvious due to smoke belching from chimneys and frequent smogs. Thanks to the successful implementation of the Clean Air Acts such visible pollution is largely a thing of the past. However the concerns nowadays are the pollutants that can’t be seen. It is important therefore that a Review and Assessment is carried out and the result made available to the public so that they know that the air they are breathing is ‘clean’. Also that if it isn’t that plans are being drawn up and implemented to bring about the necessary improvements.

This Upgrading and Screening Assessment carried out by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has been undertaken in accordance with the guidance set out in ‘Technical Guidance LAQM. TG(03)’ produced by DEFRA. This provides a checklist approach for each pollutant, laying out the steps to be taken in order to assess the various sources for the pollutants of concern and relevant public exposure.

No risk of exceeding an air quality objective at any location with relevant public exposure has been identified. However in order to show that this will be the case in future years, actual monitoring of pollutant concentrations should continue. The results from which will be included in future annual Progress Reports.

The Staffordshire Air Quality Forum has again proved beneficial in carrying out this process. It has facilitated the effective collection, collation and dissemination of information relating to air pollution issues. The Forum consists of representatives from the nine district councils, the County Council, the Environment Agency and the Highways Agency.

1 1. THE BOROUGH OF NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME

The Borough is located in North Staffordshire and covers an area of 21,096 hectares (81 square miles), with a population of approximately 123,000.

Newcastle’s strategic location at the important junction between the roads running north from London to Carlisle and west to Chester, (see map 1 overleaf) has ensured that transport has played a major part in its growth.

In addition to these historical routes, modern trunk roads also pass through the Borough. These include the M6 which is currently one of the most heavily congested roads in the country. Also the A500 which is a major route linking many areas of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent with junctions 15 and 16 of the M6. Both of these junctions are adjacent to the Borough boundary and thus contribute to the traffic congestion in the area. A number of main roads converge on the two main towns in the Borough, notably Newcastle-under-Lyme and . The A34, A52, A525, A527, and the A53 pass through Newcastle and the A50, A5011 and A34 pass through Kidsgrove.

Traffic on these roads is a significant source of air pollutants affecting the air quality in the Borough. The other main sources being industry and domestic properties.

Particular industries with the greatest potential to cause air pollution have been prescribed for air pollution control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Some processes are regulated by the Environment Agency (these are referred to as Part A processes), and others are regulated by local authorities (these are referred to as Part B processes). Within the Borough there are 2 Part A processes and 41 Part B processes currently authorised (with 3 more potential part B processes) currently being determined). These are all listed in Appendix B along with a table indicating whether they have the potential to emit significant quantities of the relevant pollutants.

2 Prior to the Environmental Protection Act 1990 the main legislative control of air pollution was through the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968. As a consequence of which local authorities were able to set up smoke control areas to restrict the types of fuel burned.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council started its smoke control programme in 1961 and this was completed in 1995. All the urban areas of the Borough are now covered by Smoke Control Orders and this has resulted in reduced concentrations of smoke and sulphur dioxide as compared with the first half of this century when ‘smogs’, i.e. the combination of fog with smoke and sulphur dioxide, were commonplace. Such smogs resulted in premature deaths and chronic respiratory illness. The introduction of the smoke control areas and the control of dark smoke emissions from industry have brought about a visible improvement in air quality in the Borough. However the pollutants of concern now are not easily seen and therefore it is not readily obvious if concentrations are increasing. Hence the need for the review and assessment of air quality which has just been undertaken.

3

4 2. THE AIR QUALITY STRATEGY FOR ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND.

This strategy published in January 2000 replaces the earlier National Air Quality Strategy published by the previous administration in March 1997. The original strategy fulfilled the requirement of the Environment Act 1995 for a national air quality strategy, setting out policies for the management of ambient (outdoor) air quality. The current Government endorsed this strategy in July 1997 and the objectives were included in Regulations for the purposes of local air quality management. At the same time, the Government announced an urgent review of the strategy in order to look at the prospects of delivering cleaner air more quickly. The review was wide-ranging, covering the legal framework, the scientific, economic and technical basis for decision-making on air quality policy and the case for changes to the scope and content of the strategy.

The current strategy describes the Government’s plans for protecting and improving air quality in the UK in the medium term. Their intention is to protect public health and the environment without imposing unacceptable social or economic costs. The proposals are an essential part of the Government’s strategy for sustainable development.

The original strategy set objectives for 2005 for the eight air pollutants which have the greatest impact on health. The new strategy strengthens the objectives for a number of these pollutants. However for PM 10 the new objective is based on the EU limit value

which is less stringent. The original objective for PM 10 was set on the basis of the limited knowledge at the time and it is now clear from a better understanding of the sources and types of particles that it will not be achievable, at least in the short term. Transboundary pollution from Europe accounts for a significant proportion of annual mean concentrations of PM 10 and so is outside of national control. Concerted action is

needed at the European level to reduce particle concentrations. The new PM 10 objective is an interim target and it is likely that more stringent goals will be put in place in the future.

5 This latest strategy continues to use a local air quality management approach in addition to existing national and European legislation. It promotes an integrated approach to air quality by the various agencies involved. The roles for the various players in the strategy are as follows:-

• Government: setting a policy framework with challenging and realistic objectives, appropriate legislation, financial incentives, and promoting public awareness.

• Industry: innovation, environmental management and voluntary measures.

• Environment Agency: regulation of industrial processes.

• Business: considering the environmental impact of there activities, e.g. business, travel, energy consumption.

• Individuals: prudent home energy use, avoiding products that damage the environment, using public transport, walking and cycling.

• Local Authorities: Local Air Quality Management is their major tool in tackling local pollution hotspots, supplemented by a range of other powers and tools such as smoke control, land use planning, and local traffic management.

For the protection of human health, the strategy sets out objectives for the eight main air pollutants, these are:-

 benzene  1,3-butadine  carbon monoxide  lead  nitrogen dioxide  ozone

 particles (PM 10 )  sulphur dioxide

Two new objectives for nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide were established with the aim of protecting vegetation and ecosystems. Under Local Air Quality Management (LAQM), local authorities will work towards achieving the objectives prescribed by regulation for seven of the pollutants, but not for ozone since this is affected by pollutants produced outside the UK. Nor will local authorities have

6 statutory responsibility for the two new objectives for protecting vegetation and ecosystems.

The air quality objectives have been set out in the Air Quality Regulations 2000 and the Air Quality (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 and are summarised in Appendix A.

7 3. LOCAL AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT

The Air Quality Strategy establishes the framework for air quality improvements. Measures agreed at the national and international level are the foundations on which the strategy is based. It is recognised, however, that despite these measures, areas of poor air quality will remain, and that these will best be dealt with using local measures implemented through the LAQM regime. The role of the local authority review and assessment process is to identify these areas, where it is considered likely that the air quality objectives will be exceeded. Experience has shown that such areas may range from single residential properties to whole town centres.

DEFRA has issued new guidance to assist local authorities to carry out the review and assessment process. This guidance builds upon the phased approach to review and assessment established in previous technical guidance, LAQM.TG4(00). The intention is that local authorities should only undertake a level of assessment that is commensurate with the risk of an air quality objective being exceeded. Not every authority will, therefore, need to proceed beyond the first step in the second round of review and assessment.

The first step of the review and assessment process is an Updating and Screening Assessment, which is to be undertaken by all authorities. This is based on a checklist to identify those matters that have changed since the first round was completed, and which may now require further assessment. This updating and screening assessment should cover: new monitoring data; new objectives; new sources or significant changes to existing sources, either locally or in neighbouring authorities; other local changes that might affect air quality, etc. If there is a risk that these changes may be significant, then a simple screening assessment should be carried out. Nomograms and similar tools are provided to help with this screening assessment.

Where the Updating and Screening Assessment has identified a risk that an air quality objective will be exceeded at a location with relevant public exposure, the authority will be required to undertake Detailed Assessment following the guidance set out in LAQM.TG(03). The aim of this Detailed Assessment should be to identify with

8 reasonable certainty whether or not a likely exceedance will occur. The assumptions within the Detailed Assessment will need to be considered in depth, and the data that are collected or used, should be quality-assured to a high standard. This is to ensure that authorities are confident in the decisions they reach. Where a likely excellence is identified, then the assessment should be sufficiently detailed to determine both its magnitude and geographical extent. Local authorities should not declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) unless a Detailed Assessment has been completed.

The Air Quality Regulations make clear that likely exceedances of the objectives should be assessed in relation to “the quality of the air at locations which are situated outside of buildings or other natural or man-made structures, above or below ground, and where members of the public are regularly present”. Reviews and assessments should thus be focussed on those locations where members of the public are likely to be regularly present and are likely to be exposed over the averaging period of the objective. Authorities should not consider exceedances of the objectives at any location where relevant public exposure would not be realistic.

Several factors have been taken into account when developing the guidance on locations considered relevant:

• The Regulations refer to locations where members of the public are regularly present. This does not imply that it must be the same persons regularly present at that location. This is important for an understanding of relevant exposure where a short-term objective allows a number of exceedances of the standard. The standard is the basis for a potential risk to health, thus a single exposure of an individual above the standard is to be avoided. The objective allows a number of exceedances of the standard because of considerations of feasibility and practicability. Thus for sulphur dioxide, where there is a 15 minute standard, a relevant location would be anywhere where a member of the public might be exposed for a single 15-minute period, as long as members of the public are regularly present at that location. The allowance of up to 35 exceedances before the objective is breached determines the need to control concentrations at that location, not whether that location is relevant in terms of exposure.

9 • The long-term objectives apply where members of the public are likely to be exposed over the averaging period of the objective. As with the discussion of short-term objectives, this does not require the same individual to be present for a full year at a particular location, but the location must be one where the people are likely to be regularly present for long periods. For instance, in the case of the 24-hour objectives, a relevant location would be one where members of the public may be exposed for 8 hours or more in a day, while for the annual mean objectives this might be where people are exposed for a cumulative period of 6 months in a year.

• There is a link between pollutant concentrations measured both inside and outside of a building. For this reason it is considered appropriate to measure at the building façade to represent relevant exposure. Thus, for exposure alongside a busy road, it is considered reasonable to select the façade of residential properties closest to the road as a representative location to assess exposure for pollutants with a 24-hour or annual objective.

10 4. UPDATING AND SCREENING ASSESSMENT OF BENZENE

Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, consisting of six atoms each of carbon and hydrogen (C 6H6). At room temperature it is a liquid but readily evaporates into the atmosphere where it is broken down after several days by chemical reactions. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure of humans to benzene may cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches as well as eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation, and, at high levels, unconsciousness. Chronic (long term) inhalation exposure has caused various disorders in the blood, including reduced numbers of red blood cells and aplastic anaemia. Increased incidence of leukaemia (cancer of the tissues that form white blood cells) has been observed in humans occupationally exposed to benzene. It is accepted that benzene is a genotoxic human carcinogen.

In the UK the main atmospheric source of benzene is the refining, distribution and combustion of petrol, of which benzene is a minor constituent. Diesel is a relatively small source. Benzene in motor vehicle exhaust gases arises mainly from the combustion of other aromatic compounds of petrol but there may also be some unburned benzene.

Motor vehicles are the single most important source, on a national basis, accounting for 64% of the total UK annual emission of 41 ktonnes in 1996, most of which arose from petrol vehicles.

However there are other sources of human exposure besides atmospheric sources. Cigarette smoke contains benzene and may be the main source of exposure for a heavy smoker. Benzene may also be present in low concentrations in some foods and in drinking water.

11 4.1 Air Quality Standard and Objective

The Government has adopted an air quality standard of 16.25 µg/m 3 measured as a running annual mean, with an objective for this standard to be achieved by the end of 2003.

This standard was based on the recommendations of EPAQS (the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards) in 1994 in which they concluded that this level represents an exceedingly small risk to health. However, in light of health advice from EPAQS and the Department of Health’s Committee on Carcinogenicity, to reduce concentrations of benzene in air to as low a level as possible an additional tighter objective has also been set. This is for an annual mean of 5 µg/m 3 to be achieved by the end of 2010.

4.2 The National Perspective

“A number of policy measures already in place, or planned for future years, will continue to reduce emissions of benzene. Since January 2000, EU legislation has reduced the maximum benzene content of petrol to 1 %, from a previous upper limit of 5 %. The European Auto- Oil programme will further reduce emissions for cars and light-duty vehicles, and emissions of benzene from the storage and distribution of petrol are controlled by vapour recovery systems.

Forecasts based on national mapping suggest that the policy measures currently in place will achieve the 2003 objective at all urban background and roadside/kerbside locations. Whilst the 2010 objectives are expected to be met at all urban background and most roadside locations, there is the possibility for some remaining exceedances which will require additional measures at a local level.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG(03), page 3 – 1)

12 4.3 The Local Perspective – what conclusions have been drawn from the first round of review and assessment?

“There have been no AQMA’s declared from the first round of reviews and assessments in respect of the 2003 air quality objective, which supports the studies carried out at a national level. There is therefore no requirement for authorities to consider road traffic emissions in their review of the 2003 objective. Only those authorities with relevant locations in the vicinity of major industrial processes that store, handle or emit benzene will need to progress beyond the Updating and Screening Assessment for the 2003 objective.

Data collected during the first round of reviews and assessments have indicated that there are current exceedances of the 2010 objective at locations in close vicinity to industrial sites (petrochemical processes), and in close proximity to busy roads…. Whilst concentrations are expected to decline in the future authorities may need to consider these sources in their review and assessment of the 2010 objective.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG(03), page 3 – 2)

The first review of assessment of air quality undertaken by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council concluded that there were no relevant locations within the Borough at which the air quality objective for benzene would be exceeded.

4.4 Upgrading and Screening Assessment

4.4.1 Monitoring Data

Benzene concentrations are not monitored by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, however the neighbouring authority of the City of Stoke on Trent does

13 monitor. They have diffusion tubes at two locations, the results from which are displayed in the table below. Results are annual mean values expressed as µg/m 3.

Location Easting Northing 1999 2000 2001 Joiners Square roundabout 388710 346500 5.7 4.6 3.9 Bucknall Bridge 389930 347270 6.7 4.2 3.5

All of these results are well below the objective value of 16.25 µg/m 3 and also encouragingly are falling. In fact the results for 2000 and 2001 are even below the 2010 objective of 5 µg/m 3. Concentrations in the Borough of Newcastle are likely to be less than those in Stoke as Newcastle is on the western edge of the North Staffordshire conurbation, has less industry, is not as densely populated and has less traffic congestion.

From the Stoke results for 2001, annual mean concentrations for 2003 and 2010 can be predicted at these monitoring locations using correction factors set out in box 3.4 of the technical guidance. Applying these factors produces the following results:-

Location 2003 2010 Joiners Square roundabout 3.4 2.5 Bucknall Bridge 3.0 2.3

These predicted values are below the respective objective values. As mentioned above the concentrations in Newcastle are likely to be lower.

4.4.2 Very Busy Roads

An Upgrading and Screening Assessment for road traffic sources is only necessary where the 2010 background concentration is expected to be above 2 µg/m 3 and the daily average traffic flows (AADF) exceed the following threshold criteria: -

• single carriageway roads with an AADF that exceeds 80,000

14 • dual carriageways with an AADF that exceeds 120,000

• motorways with an AADF that exceeds 140,000

Estimated annual mean background concentrations for 2010 have been mapped for the UK. Details can be accessed from the internet at the following address – www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm/tools.php. This site shows maps of the country and also a database for each local authority giving the background concentrations based on 1 kilometre square grids. For the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme the highest background concentration predicted for 2010 is 0.643 µg/m 3. Thus the criteria, for further assessment, of 2 µg/m 3 is not exceeded anywhere in the Borough.

In addition none of the roads in the Borough has a flow that exceeds the above threshold criteria. Traffic data has been obtained from the North Staffordshire Transport Model operated by Stoke City Council and from the Traffic Data Team of Staffordshire County Council.

In view of the expected background concentrations and the traffic flow data, road traffic is not a significant source of benzene in the Borough.

4.4.3 Industrial Sources

Industrial processes which have the potential to emit significant quantities of air pollution have to be authorised by either the Environment Agency (part A processes) or the local authority (part B processes). Appendix B contains tables listing all the authorised processes within the Borough along with an indication of whether each process emits significant quantities of the pollutants of concern for this Review and Assessment process. These tables have been constructed using Annex 2 of LAQM.TG (03) which lists what pollutants are emitted from the different classes of industry which have to be authorised. From these lists it can be seen that there are no such industrial processes in the Borough that emit significant quantities of benzene.

15 4.4.4 Petrol Stations

The potential impact of emissions arising from petrol stations has been recently investigated by DEFRA. There are two possible major sources of benzene from evaporative emissions at petrol stations. The first when petrol vapour is displaced when filling underground storage tanks, termed stage 1 emissions. The second when petrol vapour is displaced from vehicle petrol tanks during refilling, termed stage 2 emissions. All petrol stations with a petrol throughput of greater than 1000 m 3/annum were required to fit stage 1 vapour recovery before 1 st Jan 1999. Petrol stations with a throughput of less than 1000 m 3/annum are very unlikely to have any significant effect on local concentrations of benzene. Stage 1 emissions are therefore, unlikely to have any significant influence on concentrations of benzene in the vicinity of petrol stations. As yet there are no legal requirements to fit stage 2 vapour recovery systems at petrol stations.

A 12-month study by AEA Technology concluded that a petrol station is unlikely to have a significant influence on the concentration of benzene close to residential properties where the throughput is less than 2000 m3/annum and where the petrol distribution pumps are more than 10m from residential properties.

Consequently for the purposes of the Updating and Screening Assessment of benzene the guidance recommends that the approach should be to identify all petrol stations with an annual throughput of more than 2000 m 3 of petrol and with a busy road nearby (a busy road for these purposes is define in the guidance as one with an AADF of more than 30,000). If there is any relevant exposure within 10 metres of the pumps at any of these stations then it will be necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment for benzene.

As mentioned above all petrol stations with a petrol throughput of greater than 1000 m3/annum were required to fit stage 1 vapour recovery before 1 st Jan 1999. In addition the operators of these stations had to apply for an authorisation from the local authority to unload petrol into storage. The operators of the following petrol stations hold an authorisation from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and therefore the throughput at these garages is greater than 1000 m 3/annum. It is not known which of

16 these has a throughput greater than 2000 m 3/annum however by considering all of the following then this will include those with a throughput greater than 2000 m 3/annum.

• Welcome Break (Keele Services), M6 northbound.

• Welcome Break (Keele Services), M6 southbound.

• Asda, Wolstanton Retail Park.

• BP New Road Service Station, Newcastle Rd, Talke.

• Esso, Holditch Service Station, Talke Rd, Newcastle.

• Tesco, Liverpool Rd, Kidsgrove.

• Esso Clayton Service Station, Clayton Rd, Clayton.

• Save Service Station, Newcastle Rd, Loggerheads.

• Safeway, Goose St, Newcastle.

• Texaco, Higherland Service Station, Newcastle.

• Texaco, Wolstanton Service Station High St, Wolstanton.

• United Norwest Co-op, Jamage Rd, Talke Pits.

• BP Swift Service Station, Clayton Rd, Clayton.

• Wm. Morrison, Lower Milehouse Lane.

The first five of the above can be considered to be located on a ‘busy road’.

i) Welcome Break (Keele Services), M6 northbound – there are no relevant locations within 10 metres of the pumps, the nearest residential property is approx. 200 metres away. ii) Welcome Break (Keele Services), M6 southbound – there are no relevant locations within 10 metres of the pumps, the nearest residential property is approx. 300 metres away. iii) Asda, Wolstanton Retail Park - there are no relevant locations within 10 metres of the pumps, the nearest residential property is approx. 200 metres away. iv) BP New Road Service Station, Newcastle Rd, Talke – the A34 by this petrol station has an AADF of approx. 27,000 however the A500 is also nearby and this has an AADF (east of the intersection with the A34) of approx. 48,000. But there are no relevant locations within 10

17 metres of the pumps, the nearest residential property is approx. 180 metres away. v) Esso, Holditch Service Station, Talke Rd, Newcastle - the A34 by this petrol station has an AADF of approx. 28,000 however the B5500 is also nearby and this has an AADF of approx. 4,200. Therefore together the traffic flows by this petrol station is greater than 30,000 per day. However there are no relevant locations within 10 metres of the pumps, the nearest residential property is approx. 200 metres away.

Consequently none of the petrol stations in the Borough meet the criteria for proceeding to a Detailed Assessment of benzene.

4.4.5 Major fuel storage depots

There are no major fuel storage depots within the Borough.

4.5 Conclusions

It is not considered necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment for benzene due to the following:-

• Monitoring by the neighbouring authority indicates concentrations are well below the 2003 objective value.

• No roads in the Borough have flow rates that exceed the criteria for ‘very busy’. Also the predicted background concentrations for 2010 are well below 2µg/m 3.

• There are no industrial sources within the Borough with the potential to emit significant quantities of benzene. 3 • There are no petrol stations with an annual throughput greater than 2000m per annum that are next to a ‘busy’ road and have a relevant location within 10 metres of the pumps.

• There are no major fuel storage depots within the Borough.

18 5. UPDATING AND SCREENING ASSESSMENT OF 1,3-BUTADIENE

1,3-Butadiene is an organic compound, the molecule of which comprises four carbon and six hydrogen atoms (C 4H6). It is a gas at normal temperatures and pressures and trace amounts are present in the atmosphere due solely to human activity, in particular from the combustion of petrol and other materials. It is used in industry, mainly in the manufacture of synthetic rubber for tyres, but is also present in some commercial liquid petroleum gases. Thus it is a chemical to which workers have been exposed and there is evidence that such groups of workers have had a slightly higher than expected risk of cancers to the bone marrow, lymphomas and leukaemia. Fugitive emissions from the manufacture and the use of 1,3-Butadiene in the chemical industry are small and the majority of 1,3-Butadiene in ambient air comes from combustion sources.

The dominant source of 1,3-Butadiene in the UK atmosphere is the motor vehicle, particularly petrol-engined vehicles. Although neither petrol nor diesel contains 1,3- Butadiene, it is formed in the combustion of these fuels. Up until 1991 concentrations of 1,3-Butadiene in ambient air were rising due to increases in traffic flows. Since 1991 concentrations have fallen considerably despite the fact that the amounts of olefins in petrol have been increasing. It is the combustion of the olefins that results in the formation of 1,3-Butadiene. The reason for the fall in ambient levels of 1,3- Butadiene is the fact that it is removed efficiently by catalytic converters. Since their introduction in 1991, emissions from the road transport sector have reduced by 54% from 1990 to 1999. Further reductions are likely as the remaining cars not fitted with a catalytic converter are scrapped.

The UK national atmospheric inventory for 1,3-Butadiene showed that, in 1995, 67% of national annual emissions arose from petrol vehicles, 11% from diesel vehicles and 13% arose from industrial processes.

19 5.1 Air Quality Standard and Objective

The Government initially adopted a running annual mean of 1ppb as an air quality standard for 1,3-Butadiene with the objective that this standard is to be achieved by the end of 2005. However following a review of the National Air Quality Strategy, the objective date has been brought forward to the end of 2003 and the concentration is now quoted as 2.25 µg/m 3 (equivalent to 1ppb).

The air quality standard was reviewed in 2001 by EPAQS. They concluded that the current standard continues to be appropriate. The panel considered detailed data produced since 1994, the date of their first report, on the effects on workers potentially exposed to 1,3-Butadiene. This data confirmed their original findings that any excess incidence of leukaemia or lymphoma from occupational exposures below 1000 ppb was likely to be so small as to be undetectable. This value of 1000 ppb was then divided by 100 to take account of the difference in time between a working lifetime (approx. 77,00 hours) and a person's overall lifetime (approx. 660,000 hours) and also for a range of susceptibility in the population. In addition the panel were unanimous in agreeing that the levels of genotoxic carcinogens, such as 1,3- Butadiene, in the environment should not be allowed to rise. They noted that concentrations of 1,3-Butadiene measured in urban air of the have not exceeded 1 ppb as a running annual mean. Therefore they recommended 1ppb, measured as a running annual mean, should be the Standard rather 10 ppb (1000 ppb divided by 100).

5.2 The National Perspective

“Maximum running annual mean concentrations of 1,3-Butadiene measured at all urban background/centre and roadside locations are already well below the 2003 objective of 2.25 µg/m 3 (1 ppb).”

Furthermore

20 “The increasing numbers of vehicles equipped with three way catalysts will significantly reduce emissions of 1,3-Butadiene in future years. Recently agreed further reductions in vehicle emissions and improvements to fuel quality, as part of the Auto-oil programme, are expected to further reduce emissions of 1,3-Butadiene from vehicle exhausts. These measures are expected to deliver the air quality objective by the end of 2003, and no further measures are thought to be needed. Only those authorities with relevant locations in the vicinity of major industrial processes which handle, store or emit 1,3-Butadiene, are expected to proceed beyond the updating and screening assessment.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG (03), Page 4 - 1)

5.3 The Local Perspective – what conclusions have been drawn from the first round of review and assessment?

“There have been no AQMAs declared from the first round of reviews and assessments in respect of the air quality objective for 1,3- Butadiene.

Studies at a national level …suggest that there is little likelihood of the objective for 1,3-Butadiene being exceeded by 2003. However, it is important that local circumstances are fully taken into consideration within the review and assessment process. …It is envisaged that this can be achieved without the need for further significant work, and it is highly unlikely that any authority will be required to proceed beyond the Updating and Screening Assessment”.

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG (03), Page 4 - 1)

21 The first round of Review and Assessment of air quality undertaken by Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council concluded that there were no relevant locations within the Borough at which the air quality objective for 1,3-butadiene would be exceeded.

5.4 Upgrading and Screening Assessment

5.4.1 Monitoring Data

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council does not undertake any monitoring of 1,3- Butadiene.

Estimated annual mean background concentrations for 2001 have been mapped for the UK. Details can be accessed from the internet at the following address – www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm/tools.php. This site shows maps of the country and also a database for each local authority giving the background concentrations based on 1 kilometre square grids. For the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme the highest background concentration for 2001 is 0.397 µg/m 3. From this value an annual average for 2003 can be estimated by applying a correction factor from the technical guidance LAQM.TG (03). Using this method provides a concentration of 0.314 µg/m 3 for that square kilometre in 2003.

5.4.2 New Industrial Sources

There are no new industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of 1,3-butadiene that have been commissioned or proposed for the Borough. Appendix B contains tables listing all the authorised processes within the Borough along with an indication of whether each process emits significant quantities of the pollutants of concern for this Review and Assessment process.

5.4.3 Existing Industrial Sources with Significantly Increased Emissions

No industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of 1,3-butadiene were identified during the first round of Review and Assessment.

22 5.5 Conclusions

It is not considered necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment for 1,3-butadiene due to the following:-

• The maximum annual average 1,3-butadiene concentration for 2003 estimated from background concentrations is 0.314 µg/m 3 which is well below the objective value of 2.25 µg/m 3.

• There are no new industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of 1,3-butadiene proposed for the Borough.

• There are no existing industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of 1,3-butadiene.

23 6. UPDATING AND SCREENING ASSESSMENT OF CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a gas produced by the incomplete combustion of organic substances. Complete combustion in the presence of sufficient oxygen leads to the production of carbon dioxide, whereas if there is a slight deficiency of oxygen some carbon monoxide is formed. Thus most combustion processes produce some carbon monoxide depending on the efficiency of the process and the availability of oxygen.

It is one of the most dangerous pollutant gases because it is odourless and in very high concentrations can cause death. At lower levels it reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood by reacting with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemglobin. People who have an existing disease which affects the delivery of oxygen to the heart or brain (e.g. coronary heart disease – angina) are likely to be at particular risk if these delivery systems are further impaired by carbon monoxide. In the indoor environment individuals are exposed to CO from cigarette smoke, gas cooking appliances and domestic fuel heaters with blocked flues. Outdoors, the main source is road transport, which accounted for 69 % of the total CO emissions in the United Kingdom in 2000.

6.1 Air Quality Standard and Objective

The Government has adopted an air quality standard of 11.6 mg/m 3 measured as a running 8-hour mean. However a new objective has been set at a slightly tighter level of 10 mg/m 3 as a maximum daily 8-hour mean concentration, to be achieved by the end of 2003, bringing it into line with the European second Air Quality Daughter Directive.

6.2 The National Perspective

Annual emissions of CO have been falling steadily since the 1970’s and are expected to continue to do so. Current projections indicate that road transport emissions will continue to decline by a further 42% between 2000 and 2005.

24 CO concentrations are measured at a number of sites around the UK as part of a national monitoring network. There were no measured exceedances of the objective value at any of the sites for the years 1999 to 2001. Modelling predictions have been undertaken at a national level to assess concentrations adjacent to major roads. The results from which suggest that existing policies will be sufficient to reduce maximum daily running 8-hour mean concentrations of CO to below 10 mg/m 3 by about 2003.

6.3 The Local Perspective – what conclusions have been drawn from the first round of review and assessment?

“There have been no AQMA’s declared from the first round of reviews and assessments in respect of the previous 2003 air quality objective for CO.

Whilst national-scale studies suggest that the objective will be achieved, it is important that local circumstances are fully taken into consideration. All authorities are therefore required to carry out a review and assessment for CO. It is envisaged that this can be achieved without the need for further considerable work, and it is highly unlikely that any authority will be required to proceed beyond the USA.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, Feb 2003, Page 2-2).

The first round of Review and Assessment of air quality undertaken by Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council concluded that there were no relevant locations within the Borough at which the air quality objective for CO would be exceeded.

25 6.4 Upgrading and Screening Assessment

6.4.1 Monitoring Data

Carbon monoxide levels are measured at a number of sites throughout the UK as part of a national network. The nearest monitoring site to the Borough is in the neighbouring local authority of Stoke-on-Trent, this site is classified as an urban centre being located in Hanley town centre. The maximum daily running 8-hour mean concentration of CO for each of the years 1998 to 2001 are as follows:-

1998 1999 2000 2001 9.3 mg/m 3 5.9 mg/m 3 4.5 mg/m 3 9.7 mg/m 3

All of these results are below the objective value for CO.

Two air pollution monitoring projects have been undertaken within the Borough, both of which measured CO concentrations using a gas filter correlation infrared analyser. The first project was carried out between May 1997 and April 1998 with the analyser located in Chesterton. The maximum daily running 8-hour mean concentration measured was 5.3 mg/m 3. The second project was carried out between August 1998 and July 1999 with the analyser located in Silverdale. The maximum daily running 8- hour mean concentration measured was 3.8 mg/m 3. These results are lower than those measured at the national site in Hanley. This is to be expected as Hanley is much more congested and also both Chesterton and Silverdale are on the western fringe of the North Staffordshire conurbation.

6.4.2 Very Busy Roads

An Upgrading and Screening Assessment for road traffic sources is only necessary were the 2003 background concentration is expected to be above 1 mg/m 3 and the daily average traffic flows (AADF) exceed the following threshold criteria:-

• single carriageway roads with an AADF that exceeds 80,000

• dual carriageways with an AADF that exceeds 120,000

26 • motorways with an AADF that exceeds 140,000

Estimated annual mean background concentrations for 2001 have been mapped for the UK. Details can be accessed from the internet at the following address – www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm/tools.php. This site shows maps of the country and also a database for each local authority giving the background concentrations based on 1 kilometre square grids. For the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme the highest background concentration for 2001 is 0.486 mg/m 3. From this value a figure for 2003 can be predicted by applying a correction factor from the technical guidance LAQM.TG(03). Using this method provides a maximum concentration of 0.401 mg/m 3 for the Borough. Thus the criteria, for further assessment, of 1 mg/m 3 is not exceeded anywhere in the Borough.

In addition none of the roads in the Borough has a flow rate that exceeds the above threshold criteria. Traffic data has been obtained from the North Staffordshire Transport Model operated by Stoke City Council and from the Traffic Data Team of Staffordshire County Council.

In view of the expected background concentrations and the traffic flow data, road traffic is not a significant source of CO in the Borough.

6.5 Conclusions

It is not considered necessary to proceed to a detailed assessment for carbon monoxide due to the following:-

• Monitoring data indicates that maximum daily running 8-hour mean concentrations of CO are less than 10 mg/m 3.

• The maximum background concentration of CO in the Borough is much less than 1.0 mg/m 3 and also there are no roads or junctions with AADF’s above the threshold criteria.

27 7. REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF LEAD

Lead (Pb) is the most widely used non-ferrous metal with many industrial uses, both as an element and as a compound or alloy. Its main use is in the manufacture of batteries, but other uses are as a pigment in paints, radiation shielding, in alloys and in piping. Historically it has been widely used in organic compounds as a petrol additive, however this application is now declining. Although no longer mined in the UK, industrial workers may still be exposed to it in smelting and refining operations, battery manufacture, painting and even manufacturing pottery. It can be absorbed into the body through the lungs, stomach and intestines. Two sources of exposure are of particular importance – contamination of drinking water from lead pipes and contamination of the air from industrial sources and the combustion of leaded petrol. Lead in the air may not only be absorbed directly by the lungs but may also settle out and contribute to contamination of crops and of dust ingested inadvertently by children.

It has been known for centuries to be harmful to people working with it, and in particular has severe adverse effects on the blood, the nervous system and the kidneys. However these clinical effects only occur as a consequence of exposure to high concentrations. Of greater concern to the general public are the more subtle effects such as may occur from the presence of lead in drinking water, paint, dust and in the ambient air. The effects on the intellectual development of children are of particular concern.

7.1 Air Quality Standard and Objective

The Government and the devolved administrations have adopted an annual mean of 0.5 µg/m 3 as an air quality standard for lead, with an objective for the standard to be achieved by the end of 2004. In addition, a lower air quality objective of 0.25 µg/m 3 is to be achieved by the end of 2008.

28 7.2 The National Perspective

The European Directive on the Quality of Petrol and Diesel Fuels has resulted in the ban on the sale of leaded petrol in the UK since 1 st Jan 2000. Prior to then sales of leaded petrol had been dropping due to the introduction of unleaded petrol. As a consequence annual mean concentrations of lead measured at urban background and kerbside sites have declined significantly over recent years. So much so that the objectives for both 2004 and 2008 are expected to be met at such locations. It is expected that only sites in close proximity to specific industrial installations may fail to meet the objectives.

7.3 The Local Perspective – what conclusions have been drawn from the first round of review and assessment?

“There have been no AQMA’s declared in respect of the 2004 or 2008 Air Quality Objectives, as a result of the first round of review and assessment. Only those authorities with relevant locations in the vicinity of major industrial processes that emit significant quantities of lead, will need to progress beyond the Updating and Screening Assessment.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG (03), page 5 - 1)

The first round of Review and Assessment of air quality undertaken by Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council concluded that there were no relevant locations within the Borough at which the air quality objective for lead would be exceeded.

7.4 Upgrading and Screening Assessment

7.4.1 Monitoring Data

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council currently undertakes no monitoring of lead concentrations in the ambient air. However twelve months of monitoring was

29 undertaken between May 1997 and April 1998 using a ‘M’–type filter. This was located on the wall of a Community Centre situated on the main road running through Chesterton, a suburb of Newcastle. The annual mean concentration of lead was 0.05 µg/m 3. This is much lower than even the 2008 objective value. Although it is noted that the measurement position is not a ‘relevant location’ for the purposes of this Review and Assessment process, there are houses nearby on the same road.

7.4.2 New Industrial Sources

Since the first round of Review and Assessment was undertaken, a new source of lead emissions has been introduced into the Borough. Kidsgrove Fabricating and Engineering Company Limited of High Carr Business Park spray a paint containing lead. The emissions from which are filtered and then vented to atmosphere via a stack. An assessment of these emissions was carried out at the planning stage using the Environment Agency’s Guidance for Estimating the Air Quality Impact of Stationary Sources. Following the procedures set out in that document produces an estimated maximum annual average ground level concentration of 0.095 µg/m 3 which will occur at a distance of approx. 175m from the stack. This value is less than the 2004 objective value of 0.5 µg/m 3 and the stricter 2008 objective of 0.25 µg/m 3. In addition the nearest relevant location is approx. 500m to the west at High Carr Farm, Talke Road. The concentration at this point will be less than the maximum value which it is estimated will occur at 175 m from the stack.

7.4.3 Industrial Sources with substantially increased emissions.

Appendix B contains tables listing all the authorised processes within the Borough along with an indication of whether each process emits significant quantities of the pollutants of concern for this Review and Assessment process. There is one ‘part A’ process and three ‘part B’ processes within the Borough which fall into these categories for lead emissions. These are: -

Part A

• Johnson Matthey Plc operate an inorganic chemical process at their site on Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove.

30 Part B

• Broxap Ltd. operate a foundry process at their site on Rowhurst Close, Apedale, Chesterton.

• Sweetmore Engineering Holdings Ltd. operate a non-ferrous metal foundry process at their site on Holditch Road, Chesterton.

• Westleys Ltd. operate a non-ferrous metal foundry process at their Trent Foundries site on Chemical Lane, Longport.

The first two of the above processes do not in fact use any lead in their processes and so do not require further investigation. The latter two processes, although they are of a type with the potential to emit significant quantities of lead, they were assessed as part of the first round of Review and Assessment and were found to emit such low quantities of lead i.e. below the threshold values specified in the Pollutant Specific Guidance [LAQM.TG4 (00)], that the emissions are not in fact considered to be significant.

7.5 Conclusions

It is not considered necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment for lead due to the following: -

• An assessment of the emissions from the only new industrial source has estimated that neither the 2004 nor the 2008 objective values will be exceeded at the nearest relevant location.

• There were no industrial sources identified as potentially significant during the first round of Review and Assessment.

31 8. UPDATING AND SCREENING ASSESSMENT OF NITROGEN DIOXIDE

Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) is a gas produced by the reaction between nitrogen and oxygen in combustion processes. The reaction usually takes place in two stages, the first producing nitric oxide (NO), this compound is then oxidised over time to nitrogen dioxide. Wherever nitrogen dioxide is found, nitric oxide is also found, and these oxides of nitrogen are collectively known as NOx.

There are a number of natural sources of NOx, such as lightning, forest fires, and bacterial activity in soil but by far the largest quantity arises from the burning of fossil fuels (petrol, oil, coal and gas) especially by road traffic (50%) and the electricity supply industry (20%). In urban areas, the contribution from road transport will be even greater.

Nitric oxide is produced naturally in the lung and has no harmful consequences for humans when inhaled at the concentrations likely to occur in the atmosphere. Nitrogen dioxide however, is an irritant gas that can have serious health effects. Exposure may increase susceptibility to viral infections, irritating the lungs, causing bronchitis and pneumonia. Young children and asthmatics may be particularly sensitive. Environmentally it can cause harm, as it is a precursor of both ground level ozone and acid rain.

8.1 Air Quality Standard and Objective

The Government has adopted two Air Quality Objectives for NO 2 :-

i) an annual mean concentration of 40 µg/m 3, and ii) a 1-hour mean concentration of 200 µg/m 3not to be exceeded more than 18 times per year.

Both of these objectives are to be achieved by the end of 2005.

32 8.2 The National Perspective

“The contribution of road transport to nitrogen oxides emissions has declined significantly in recent years as a result of various policy measures, and further reductions are expected up until 2010 and beyond. For example urban traffic nitrogen oxides emissions are estimated to fall by about 20 % between 2000 and 2005, and by 46% between 2000 and 2010.

…Emissions from both sources [electricity supply industry and other industrial sectors] have also declined dramatically, due to the fitting of low NOx burners, and the increased use of natural gas plant. Industrial sources make only a small contribution to annual mean nitrogen dioxide levels, although breaches of the hourly nitrogen dioxide objective may occur under rare, extreme meteorological conditions, due to emissions from these sources.

…The annual mean objective of 40 µg/m 3 is currently widely exceeded at roadside sites throughout the UK, with exceedances also reported at urban background locations in major conurbations. The number of exceedances of the 1-hour objective show considerable year-to-year variation, and are driven by meteorological conditions which give rise to winter episodes of poor dispersion and summer oxidant episodes. In recent years, exceedances of the short-term objective have generally only been recorded at roadside or kerbside sites in close proximity to heavily-trafficked roads in major conurbations.

In practice, meeting the annual mean objective in 2005,…is expected to be considerably more demanding than achieving the 1-hour objective. National studies have indicated that the annual mean objective is likely to be achieved at al urban background locations outside of London by 2005, but that the objective may be exceeded

33 more widely at roadside sites throughout the UK in close proximity to road links.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG (03), pages 6–1 and 6-2)

8.3 The Local Perspective – what conclusions have been drawn from the first round of review and assessment?

“Of the 100-plus AQMAs (Air Quality Management Areas) that have been declared, the vast majority are related specifically to road-traffic emissions, where attainment of the annual mean objective is considered unlikely. Of the anticipated AQMAs, 95% have traffic emissions as the main, if not only, component. Exceedances of the objective have been identified within major conurbations, within smaller town centres with congested traffic, and alongside dual carriageways and motorways in more rural areas.

...Whilst industrial sources may make a contribution to local pollutant levels, no exceedances of the objectives have been identified as a direct result of these emissions alone.

… outside of major conurbations, exceedances of the annual mean objective are only likely to occur within about 10 metres of the kerbside of single carriageway roads.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment :Technical Guidance, LAQM.T (03), pages 6–21 and 6-3)

The first round of Review and Assessment of air quality undertaken by Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council concluded that there were no relevant locations within the Borough at which the air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide would be exceeded. There is a domestic property in Little Madeley that is very close to the hard shoulder of the M6 where the previous stage three modelling predicted annual mean levels

34 slightly above the objective value in 2005. However predictions from diffusion tube monitoring at the façade of this house indicate that the objective will be met.

8.4 Updating and Screening Assessment

8.4.1 Monitoring Data outside an AQMA

Nitrogen dioxide concentrations are measured at a number of sites across the Borough using diffusion tubes. The results for the year 2000 were reported and considered during the first round of Review and Assessment. The results for subsequent years i.e. 2001 and 2002 appear in Appendix C. Each diffusion tube is exposed for a month at a time, they are changed on the dates set out by Netcen for the UK Nitrogen Dioxide Survey. The tubes are prepared and analysed using the 50% TEA in water methodology by Staffordshire County Council’s County Analyst.

It is important to note when considering the results in Appendix C that for each location an annual mean concentration is given and also a corrected annual mean. The latter is calculated by applying a bias correction factor to take into account the accuracy of this relatively inexpensive method. The bias correction factor is calculated by co-locating tubes alongside a chemiluminescent analyser. The annual diffusion tube concentration is then compared with the annual mean chemiluminescence concentration.

The neighbouring authority of the City of Stoke-on-Trent has a chemiluminescent analyser that is part of the UK AUN (automatic urban network) survey. The monitoring is subject to rigorous quality assurance/quality control and as such there is a high level of confidence in the results. By co-locating diffusion tubes alongside this AUN station the following bias correction factors have been calculated:-

• for 2001 the bias correction factor is 0.979

• for 2002 the bias correction factor is 0.975

The diffusion tubes used by Stoke Council are prepared and analysed by the same laboratory as used by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.

35 When considering the results in appendix C it should be borne in mind that sites K1, UB1, UB2, 7, 11, 14 and 16 are not ‘relevant locations’. Consequently the highest concentration for a ‘relevant location’ in 2001 was measured at site 6 – Kidsgrove. Based on that year’s results the predicted concentration for 2005 at this site is 34.4 µg/m 3. The diffusion tube is mounted on the façade of 106 Liverpool Road which is close to the traffic lights at the junction with The Avenue.

The highest concentration for a ‘relevant location’ in 2002 was measured at site 9 – Porthill Bank. Based on that year’s results the predicted concentration for 2005 at this site is 34.5 µg/m 3. The diffusion tube is mounted on the façade of 32 Porthill Bank.

Both of these highest predicted values for 2005 are below the annual mean objective concentration of 40 µg/m 3.

The local authorities at and also co-locate diffusion tubes alongside chemiluminescent analysers. However neither of these are AUN sites and so are not subject to the same QA/QC procedures. The diffusion tubes used by both these authorities are also prepared and analysed by Staffordshire County Council’s County Analyst. Bias correction factors have been calculated for the 2001 results. Using the data for South Staffordshire District Council produces a bias correction factor of 1.12 and for Rugeley’s data a bias correction factor of 1.08 is calculated. Thus the highest bias correction factor calculated by Staffordshire Authorities is 1.12. If this is applied to Newcastle’s results for 2001 as a worst case scenario, then the value at the highest ‘relevant location’ for 2001 i.e. at site 6 – Kidsgrove, is 39.4 µg/m 3 x 1.12 = 44.13 µg/m 3 which would predict an annual mean concentration for 2005 of 39.36 µg/m 3, which is just below the annual mean objective.

8.4.2 Monitoring Data within an AQMA

As a result of the first round of Review and Assessment of Air Quality, Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council has not declared any Air Quality Management Areas.

36 8.4.3 Narrow Congested Streets with Residential Properties Close to the Kerb

Concentrations of NO 2 are often higher where traffic is slow moving with stop/start driving and where buildings either side form a ‘street canyon’ thus reducing dispersion. The guidance suggests that ‘narrow roads’ are those where the carriageway is less than 10 metres wide and that ‘residential properties close to the kerb’ are those within 5 metres of the kerb. Such areas exist along parts of London Road, Chesterton and Watlands View, Porthill. These locations were included in the area that was modelled as part of stage three of the first round of Review and Assessment. The results of which indicated that there would not be any breaches of the objectives. Consequently the guidance recommends that it is not necessary to reassess these sites. In addition the guidance suggests that only where the traffic flow is greater than 10,000 vehicles per day that it would be necessary to undertake a screening exercise involving the DMRB model. The traffic flows along these ‘street canyon’ roads mentioned above are much lower than this value. In fact the busiest, Watlands View, had an AADF of 4700 in 2001.

8.4.4 Junctions

The area that was modelled as part of stage three of the first round of Review and Assessment included the main urban areas of the Borough and the busiest junctions. The results of which indicated that there would not be any breaches of the objectives.

8.4.5 Busy streets where people may spend 1-hour or more close to traffic.

The guidance suggests that this refers to busy streets with many shops and/or outdoor cafes/bars. Busy streets are defined as those with more than 10,000 vehicles per day. Such locations were included in the modelling assessment undertaken for the first round of review and assessment and hence do not need to be considered again.

In addition, monitoring is undertaken using diffusion tubes at two such locations i.e. Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove and High Street, May Bank. Based on the results for last year (2002), the predicted annual means for 2005 are 32.6 µg/m 3 and 31.7 µg/m 3

37 respectively. Both these values are less than the annual mean objective value of 40 µg/m 3.

8.4.6 Roads with high flow of buses and/or HGVs

Guidance suggests that the roads to be considered are those where the heavy duty vehicle (HDV) flow rate is greater than 2,500 per day and where HDVs make up more than 25% of the traffic. Such roads are likely to be bus only streets or roads onto industrial estates. There are no bus only streets in the Borough and the bus station is considered separately in section 8.4.10. In addition it is only where there is a relevant location within 10 metres of the road that further consideration is necessary.

The main industrial estates within the Borough are as follows:-

i) Lymedale Business Park – the entrance to this site is Brymbo Road, no traffic data is available however there are no relevant locations. ii) Parkhouse West – the entrance to this estate is Rosevale Road, no traffic data is available however there are no relevant locations. iii) Parkhouse East - the entrance to this estate is Parkhouse Road East, no traffic data is available however there are no relevant locations. iv) Longbridge Hayes - the entrance to this estate is Chemical Lane, no traffic data is available however there are no relevant locations. v) Holditch Industrial Estate - the entrances to this site are from Holditch Road and Brymbo Road, no traffic data is available for these roads however there are no relevant locations. vi) Rowhurst Close - the entrance to this estate is along Apedale Road. No traffic data is available for this road however access is from Audley Road (B5500) which is far busier. The AADF for Audley Road was 4171 in 1999 and is estimated to be approximately 5110 in 2004. Traffic flows for Apedale Road are likely to be much less than half of those for Audley Road, thus it is very unlikely that HDV flow rates will be more than 2,500 per day.

38 vii) High Carr Business Park - the entrance to this estate is from Millennium Way, no traffic data is available however there are no relevant locations. viii) Nelson Industrial Estate – the access to this estate is from West Avenue/Old Butt Lane. This was included in the roads that were modelled for the first round of Review and Assessment and hence there is no need to consider it further as the modelling predicted that there would not be any exceedances at relevant locations along West Avenue/Old Butt Lane ix) Etruria Trading Estate - the entrance to this estate is from Etruria Way, no traffic data is available however there are no relevant locations. x) Stonewall Place Industrial Estate - the entrance to this estate is from Stonewall Place, no traffic data is available however there are no relevant locations. xi) Jamage Industrial Estate – the entrance to this estate is mainly from Oaktree Lane. This was included in the roads that were modelled for the first round of Review and Assessment and hence there is no need to consider it further as the modelling predicted that there would not be any exceedances at relevant locations along Oaktree Lane. xii) Loomer Road Industrial Estate (including Turner Crescent) – the entrance to this estate is from Loomer Road. This was included in the roads that were modelled for the first round of Review and Assessment and hence there is no need to consider it further as the modelling predicted that there would not be any exceedances at relevant locations along Loomer Road. xiii) Croft and Brampton Workshops - the entrance to this estate is from Brampton Sidings, no traffic data is available for these roads however there are no relevant locations.

39 8.4.7 New roads constructed or proposed since the first round of review and assessment.

No new roads of any significance have been constructed or proposed since the first round of Review and Assessment. The proposed Wolstanton link road was considered during the first round.

8.4.8 Roads close to the objective during the first round of review and assessment.

Since the first round of review and assessment, new emission factors from vehicles have been published. These are used in modelling to predict concentrations in 2005. As a result some roads which were predicted to be just below the 2005 annual mean objective of 40 µg/m 3, if modelled again using the new emission factors, may now be above the objective. The guidance therefore suggests identifying any roads where annual mean concentrations in 2005 were predicted to be above 36 µg/m 3 but below 40 µg/m 3 at relevant locations, during the first round of review and assessment.

A review of the previous modelling has revealed just one relevant location where the predicted annual mean concentration is between 36 and 40 µg/m 3. This is at a property called Limbrick Cottage, Limbrick Road, Shraleybrook. There are two properties of this name and it is the one furthest away from The Rising Sun public house (now closed) that is the one of interest (i.e. the one closest to the M6). A diffusion tube has been located on the façade of this property facing the M6 since the beginning of 2002. It can be seen from the diffusion tube results in Appendix C (see site number ‘28 - Shraleybrook’) that the annual mean for 2002 at this location was 35.8 µg/m 3 (bias adjustment factor applied). From this value the annual mean concentration for 2005 is predicted to be 32.9 µg/m 3, i.e. well below the annual mean objective. Consequently it is not considered necessary to proceed to a detailed assessment at this location.

Monitoring will continue at this location in order to ensure that concentrations of NO 2 do in fact remain below the objective.

40 8.4.9 Roads with significantly changed traffic flows

The guidance suggests that only those roads with flows of greater than 10,000 vehicles per day need to be considered. Significantly changed traffic flows are also defined as being more than a 25% increase.

None of these ‘busier’ roads in the Borough have had a significant increase in traffic flows.

8.4.10 Bus stations

The guidance suggests that an initial assessment using the DMRB screening model is necessary where there are more than 1000 bus movements per day and where there is relevant exposure within 10m of the bus station.

First PMT operates the majority of the buses using Newcastle bus station. On weekdays they have 818 departures per day i.e. 1636 bus movements. However there is no relevant exposure within 10m of the bus station. Relevant exposure is described in box 1.4 of the technical guidance. In particular it is the 1-hour criteria that is used for the assessment.

8.4.11 New industrial sources

No new industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of nitrogen oxides have been commissioned or proposed for the Borough.

8.4.12 Industrial sources with substantially increased emissions

Appendix B contains tables listing all the authorised processes within the Borough along with an indication of whether each process emits significant quantities of the pollutants of concern for this Review and Assessment process. There are two ‘part A’ processes within the Borough which fall into these categories for NO 2 emissions. These are the two part A processes at the Johnson Matthey plant at Kidsgrove. They were assessed as part of the first round of Review and Assessment. The inorganic

41 chemical process does not in fact emit any NO 2 and the acid process emits such low

quantities of NO 2 i.e. below the threshold values specified in the Pollutant Specific Guidance [LAQM.TG4 (00)], that the emissions are not in fact considered to be significant.

8.4.13 Aircraft

Aircraft are significant sources of nitrogen oxide emissions especially during takeoff. However we do not have any airports within the Borough. Emissions from aircraft once they are above about 200m will make a negligible contribution to ground-level concentrations. The minimum flying height over urban areas is 1500 ft (460m) and over rural areas is 500 ft (153m), however as military aircraft fly at altitudes between 500 and 1500 ft most civil pilots tend to stay above 1500 ft (460m) except when landing and taking off.

8.5 Conclusions.

It is not considered necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment for lead due to the following: -

• From monitoring using diffusion tubes, the predicted annual means in 2005 are less than 40 µg/m 3.

• There are no narrow congested streets where the AADF is greater than 10,000 and with residential properties close to the kerb.

• ‘Busy’ junctions were modelled previously in the first round of Review and Assessment and no breaches of the objectives were predicted.

• ‘Busy’ streets where people may spend 1-hour or more close to traffic were modelled previously in the first round of Review and Assessment and no breaches of the objectives were predicted.

• The roads with unusually high proportion of buses and/or HGVs either do not have relevant locations within 10m or the HDV flows are less than 2,500 per day or the roads were modelled previously in the first round of Review and Assessment and no breaches of the objectives were predicted.

42 • No new roads of significance have been constructed or proposed since the last round of Review and Assessment.

• There is only one ‘relevant location’ on a road that was close to the objective during the last round of Review and Assessment. However monitoring at this property has been undertaken using diffusion tubes. From the results for 2002 the predicted annual mean for 2005 is 32.9 µg/m 3 which is well below the objective value.

• None of the busier roads have had a significant increase in traffic flows.

• There is no ‘relevant exposure’ within 10m of the bus station.

• No new industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of

NO 2 have been commissioned or proposed for the Borough.

• There are no existing industrial sources with the potential to emit significant

quantities of NO 2 and hence no substantial increases in emissions from such sources.

• There are no airports in the Borough.

43 9. UPDATING AND SCREENING ASSESSMENT OF PM 10

PM 10 is the term used to describe airborne particulate matter that is smaller than 10 microns in diameter (1 micron = 1 millionth of a metre). Such particulate matter is of concern because they are so small that they are able to penetrate deep into the lungs causing irritation. Particulate air pollution can be associated with a range of effects on health including effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, asthma and mortality.

Particulate matter in the atmosphere is composed of a wide range of materials arising from a variety of sources, man-made and natural. They can be divided into three main source categories:

• Primary Combustion Particles – particles emitted directly from combustion processes such as road traffic, power generation, industrial combustion processes etc. These particles are generally less than 2.5 microns and often well below 1 micron in diameter; • Secondary particles – Particles formed in the atmosphere due to physical

processes and chemical reactions between gases e.g. sulphates from SO 2 and nitrates from NOx. These particles are again generally less than 2.5 microns in diameter; • Coarse Particles – these are comprised of emissions from a wide range of non- combustion sources. These include road dust resuspended by traffic, construction and demolition sites, mineral extraction processes, windblown dusts and soils, pollen grains, fungal spores and sea salt. Such particles are generally greater than 2.5 microns in diameter.

Particles can remain airborne for a long time because of their small size, e.g. even particles as large as 1000 microns (1 millimetre) can remain suspended for up to ten

days. Consequently PM 10 can be transported long distances from the source. In particular secondary particles can travel hundreds of kilometres due to the nature of their formation. Not only do the particles travel considerable distances but also the

44 gases from which they are formed may also be transported a long way. Thus gaseous emissions in Europe contribute to the background concentrations of PM 10 in the UK.

9.1 Air Quality Standard and Objective

The Government has adopted two Air Quality Objectives for PM 10 :-

i) an annual mean concentration of 40 µg/m 3, ii) a 24-hour mean of 50 µg/m 3 not to be exceeded more than 35 days per year.

Both of these objectives are to be achieved by the end of 2004 and are based upon measurements carried out using the European gravimetric transfer reference sampler or equivalent.

The Government has also announced provisional objectives to be achieved by 1 January 2010. These are based on European Stage 2 limit values, however these are under review. Consequently these objectives have not yet been brought into Regulation for the purpose of Local Air Quality Management. The provisional objectives are: -

3 • an annual mean concentration of 20 µg/m , 3 • a 24-hour mean of 50 µg/m not to be exceeded more than 7 days per year.

These provisional objectives do not apply to London or Scotland, for which there are different provisional objectives.

9.2 The National Perspective

“ There has been significant progress in recent years in reducing emissions of particles from both the transport and industrial sectors, and total national annual UK emissions declined by nearly 40% in the period between 1990 and 1999. Further reductions are expected in

45 future years as a result of agreed additional policies, or those that are currently under discussion.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG (03), page 8-4)

However emissions of coarse particles are largely uncontrolled, and in general are not expected to decline in future years.

“Concentrations of PM 10 are currently measured at more than 60 national monitoring sites in the UK….Concentrations are generally well below the 2004 annual mean objective ….The 24-hour objective for 2004 has been exceeded at a small number of sites, principally those in the vicinity of busy roads or close to industrial activities.”

(Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG (03), page 8-5)

9.3 The Local Perspective – what conclusions have been drawn from the first round of review and assessment?

“More than 50% of the AQMAs declared in the UK have included

exceedances of the 2004 24-hour mean PM 10 objective, although the majority of these have been in combination with nitrogen dioxide, and are associated with road traffic sources. In most of these cases the

spatial extent of the 24-hour mean PM 10 exceedance is smaller than that for the nitrogen dioxide annual mean objective. There are however

other examples of PM 10 AQMAs. Industrial AQMAs for PM 10 include a steel plant, unregulated coal-fired boilers and heating plant. In

addition, fugitive sources of PM 10 have been found to cause exceedances around a quarry and from port-handling activities. The declaration of an AQMA due to domestic coal burning is also under consideration.”

46 (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Review and Assessment: Technical Guidance, LAQM.TG (03), page 8-6)

The first round of Review of Assessment of air quality undertaken by Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council concluded that there were no relevant locations within

the Borough at which the air quality objectives for PM 10 would be exceeded.

9.4 Upgrading and Screening Assessment

9.4.1 Monitoring data outside an AQMA

Unfortunately due to a variety of hardware and software problems, no monitoring data is available from the Beta Attention Monitor. The location of this equipment has recently been changed. It is now alongside Barracks Road (A53), which forms part of the ring road around the town centre, near to Nelson Place roundabout.

Previously the Beta Attention Monitor was located in Silverdale as part of a twelve month monitoring project between August 1998 and July 1999. The annual mean measured for this period was 29.45 µg/m 3 which is well below the annual mean objective of 40 µg/m 3. In addition there were 29 exceedances of the 24-hour mean of 50 µg/m 3, the 24-hour objective allows for 35 exceedances per year.

9.4.2 Monitoring data within an AQMA

As a result of the first round of Review and Assessment of Air Quality, Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council has not declared any Air Quality Management Areas.

9.4.3 Junctions

The area that was modelled as part of stage three of the first round of Review and Assessment included the main urban areas of the Borough and the busiest junctions. The results of which indicated that there would not be any breaches of the objectives.

47 9.4.4 Roads with high flow of buses and/or HGVs

Guidance suggests that the roads to be considered are those where heavy duty vehicle (HDV) flow rate is greater than 2,000 per day and where HDVs make up more than 20% of the traffic. Such roads are likely to be bus only streets or roads leading to a quarry or freight terminal. There are no bus only streets in the Borough and the bus station is considered separately in section 8.4.10.

There are four quarries in the Borough currently in use:-

i) Walleys Quarry, Silverdale - this is accessed from Cemetery Road. The estimated AADF for 2004 is 8455, however the percentage of HDVs is only 4% i.e. approximately 338 per day. ii) Knutton (Gorsty) Quarry - this is accessed from Church Lane. The estimated AADF for 2004 is 8356, again the percentage of HDVs is 4%, i.e. approximately 334 per day. iii) Willoughbridge Wells Marl Pit - this is accessed from a lane turning off the A51 at Willoughbridge. There are no traffic figures available, however it is extremely unlikely that the number of HDVs is above 2000 per day. Additionally there are no ‘relevant locations’ within 10 m of this lane. iv) Bradwell (West) Marl Pit - this is a quarry close to the intersection of the A500 and the Tunstall West by-pass. There are no ‘relevant locations’ within 10 m of the access road to this site.

There are no freight terminals in the Borough.

Section 8.4.6 also considered roads with high flows of buses and/or HGVs but in relation to emissions of NO 2. This included roads to the main industrial estates. The

comments made are also applicable in this case with respect to PM 10 , i.e. many of them do not have relevant locations within 10 metres, or were modelled previously and did not predict any exceedances for either PM 10 or NO 2.

48 9.4.5 New roads constructed or proposed since first round of review and assessment

No new roads of any significance have been constructed or proposed since the first round of review and assessment. The proposed Wolstanton link road was considered during the first round.

9.4.6 Roads close to the objective during the first round of review and assessment

Since the first round of review and assessment, new emission factors from vehicles have been published. These are used in modelling to predict concentrations in 2004. As a result some roads which were predicted to be just below the 24- hour mean objective of 50 µg/m 3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times per year by the end of 2004, if modelled again using the new emission factors, may now be above the objective. The guidance therefore suggests identifying any roads where more than 30 exceedances of the 24-hour mean were predicted at relevant locations, during the first round of review and assessment. However the 24-hour mean concentrations were predicted to be below 50 µg/m 3 across all of the modelled area.

9.4.7 Roads with significantly changed traffic flows

The guidance suggests that only those roads with flows of greater than 10,000 vehicles per day need to be considered. Significantly changed traffic flows are also defined as being more than a 25% increase.

None of these ‘busier’ roads in the Borough have had a significant increase in traffic flows.

9.4.8 New industrial sources

No new industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of PM 10 have been commissioned or proposed for the Borough.

49 9.4.9 Industrial sources with substantially increased emissions

Appendix B contains tables listing all the authorised processes within the Borough along with an indication of whether each process emits significant quantities of the pollutants of concern for this Review and Assessment process. There is a ‘part A’ process and two part B processes within the Borough which fall into these categories for PM 10 emissions. These are:-

• The acid process at Johnson Matthey, Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove;

• The mineral process at Tarmac Central Ltd., West Ave, Talke.

• The coal process at the CPL Distribution depot off the A500 at Wolstanton.

None of these processes have substantially increased emissions.

9.4.10 Areas with domestic solid fuel burning

Solid fuel for domestic heating has been replaced by alternative fuels throughout most of the UK. However, there are a few areas where there is still a significant level of solid fuel burning, which may cause an exceedance of the objectives. The risk of exceeding the objectives may be determined by calculating the density of ‘effective’ coal-burning houses in an area of 500 m x 500 m.

Smoke control areas now cover most of the urban areas of the Borough. Within these areas many of the houseowners took advantage of the grants available to convert non- compliant solid fuel fires, with many of these choosing to change to natural gas. Consequently the areas with the highest density of solid fuel burning today are likely to be villages in the rural parts of the Borough or estates of social housing where the means of heating was adapted to burn smokeless fuels.

The Council’s housing stock has been transferred to a private company, Aspire Housing who are now the largest landlord of social housing in the Borough. They have continued a modernisation programme of replacing solid fuel heating appliances with gas-fired central heating so that now only a few of their properties continue to

50 burn solid fuels. Consequently the highest density of solid fuel burning is likely to be in one of the villages outside of the area covered by smoke control orders.

As part of the first Round of Review and Assessment a survey of fuel use was undertaken in the larger villages of the Borough i.e. Audley, Baldwins Gate, Betley, Bignall End, Loggerheads and Madeley. From this survey Bignall End had the highest proportion of households using solid fuel as their primary source of heating. The percentage being 5%. The area of Bignall End surveyed was the area north of Ravens Lane between Albert Street and Bignall End Road. This area mainly consists of older terraced properties which are more likely to be using coal than the much newer housing south of Ravens Lane and thus represents a ‘worst case scenario’.

The guidance suggests that areas where significant solid fuel burning takes place in relation to PM 10 emissions are where more than 50 houses are burning solid fuel as their primary source of heating in an area of 500 m x 500 m. Placing a grid of this size over the surveyed area to include as many houses as possible reveals 491 houses. Taking the survey result of 5% produces a figure of 25 houses where solid fuel is the primary source of heating. Thus solid fuel burning is not a significant source of PM 10 emissions in this area. As this is the area with the greatest density of solid fuel burning as the primary source of heating then it follows that solid fuel heating is not a

significant source of PM 10 emissions anywhere in the Borough.

9.4.11 Quarries, landfill sites, opencast coal, handling of dusty cargoes at ports etc.

These types of processes can be sources of fugitive dust emissions, a proportion of which will be PM 10 . The guidance suggests that firstly it is necessary to establish whether there are any relevant locations ‘near’ to the sources of dust emissions. ‘Near’ is then defined relative to the estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration.

As mentioned previously in section 9.4.4 there are currently four quarries operating in the Borough, these are:-

51 i) Walleys Quarry - this is a clay quarry off Cemetery Road, Silverdale. At this location the estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration is 19.8 µg/m 3 and consequently ‘near’ is within 200 m. There are some houses on Silverdale Road just to the north of the site within the 200 m, however we have not received any complaints regarding dust from these properties. ii) Knutton (Gorsty) Quarry - this is a clay quarry off Church Lane, Knutton. At this location the estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration is 19.6 µg/m 3 and consequently ‘near’ is within 200 m. There are a number of residential properties on Oak Road, Knutton and Tregew Place, Silverdale which are within the 200 m. However there have not been any recent complaints about dust from these nearby properties or anyone else. In addition monitoring is undertaken at a number of these houses mainly using glass slides but also a ‘frisbee’ gauge. This was started prior to the excavation of clay in order to establish background levels. No significant increase has been detected since clay extraction has started. iii) Willoughbridge Wells Marl Pits - this is a clay quarry accessed from a turning off the A51 at Willoughbridge. At this location the estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration is 16.8 µg/m 3 and consequently ‘near’ is within 200 m. There are two ‘relevant locations’ within this distance, at properties called Willoughbridge Wells and The Field House. However there have not been any recent complaints about dust from these nearby properties. iv) Bradwell (West) Marl Pit - this is a quarry close to the intersection of the A500 and the Tunstall West by-pass. At this location the estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration is 21.9 µg/m 3 and consequently ‘near’ is within 200 m. There are no ‘relevant locations’ within this distance.

52 The following landfill sites are currently operational within the Borough:-

• J. Kimberley & Sons Ltd. operate a site close to the intersection of the A500 and the Tunstall West by-pass. At this location the estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration is 21.9 µg/m 3 and consequently ‘near’ is within 200 m. There are no ‘relevant locations’ within this distance. In addition no dust complaints have been received regarding this site.

• Cherry Hill Skip Hire operate a site at ‘land opposite 2 High Carr Farm’, High Carr. This is land to the north of High Carr Business Park. At this location the estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration is 21.8 µg/m 3 and consequently ‘near’ is within 200 m. There are no ‘relevant locations’ within this distance. In addition no dust complaints have been received regarding this site.

• Ibstock Brick Limited operate a site at their clay quarry (Walleys Quarry) off Cemetery Road, Silverdale. At this location the estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration is 19.8 µg/m 3 and consequently ‘near’ is within 200 m. There are some houses on Silverdale Road just to the north of the site within the 200 m, however we have not received any complaints regarding dust from these properties.

There are no longer any opencast coal sites within the Borough however CPL Distribution operate a coal storage and distribution wharf at their Wolstanton depot. This is a part ‘B’ process as it has the potential to emit significant quantities of dust. Consequently they operate under an authorisation, from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, which imposes conditions in order to minimise dust emissions. The estimated 2004 annual mean background concentration of PM 10 for this locality is 22.2 µg/m 3, consequently ‘near’ is within 200m. There are no ‘relevant’ locations within 200m of the depot.

There are no ports within the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

53 9.4.12 Aircraft

Aircraft are not major sources of PM 10 emissions but may make a contribution close to the source. However we do not have any airports within the Borough. Emissions from aircraft once they are above about 200m will make a negligible contribution to ground-level concentrations. The minimum flying height over urban areas is 1500 ft (460m) and over rural areas is 500 ft (153m), however as military aircraft fly at altitudes between 500 and 1500 ft most civil pilots tend to stay above 1500 ft (460m) except when landing and taking off.

9.5 Conclusions

It is not considered necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment for PM 10 due to the following: -

• ‘Busy’ junctions were modelled previously in the first round of Review and Assessment and no breaches of the objectives were predicted.

• The roads with unusually high proportion of buses and/or HGVs either do not have relevant locations within 10 m or the HDV flows are less than 2000 per day.

• No new roads of significance have been constructed or proposed since the last round of Review and Assessment.

• No roads were close to the objective (i.e. where more than 30 24-hour exceedances of 50 µg/m 3 were predicted at relevant locations in 2004) during the first round of Review and Assessment.

• None of the busier roads have had a significant increase in traffic flows.

• No new industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of

PM 10 have been commissioned or proposed for the Borough.

• No industrial sources identified as potentially significant have substantially increased emissions.

• No areas were identified as having significant solid fuel burning

• With regard to quarries, landfill sites, opencast coal sites, ports etc., there are either no relevant locations nearby or no dust complaints have been received.

• There are no airports in the Borough.

54 10. UDATING AND SCREENING ASSESSMENT OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE

Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2) is emitted in the combustion of sulphur containing fossil fuels, principally coal and heavy oils. From the time of the Industrial Revolution until the early 1960’s, the main source of sulphur dioxide emissions in towns and cities was the domestic, commercial and industrial burning of coal. Following the introduction of the Clean Air Act in 1956, cleaner fuels have replaced bituminous coal and electricity generation has moved to larger power stations situated away from town centres.

Consequently SO 2 emissions in urban areas have fallen considerably.

The main source of sulphur dioxide in the UK is power stations, which accounted for more than 71% of emissions in 2000. There are also significant emissions from other industrial combustion sources. Domestic sources now only account for 4% of emissions, but can be locally much more significant. Road transport currently accounts for less than 1% of emissions.

9.1 Air Quality Standard and Objective

The Government has adopted three Air Quality Objectives for SO2: -

i) a 15-minute mean of 266 µg/m 3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times in a year, ii) a 1-hour mean of 350 µg/m 3 not to be exceeded more than 24 times in a year, iii) a 24-hour mean of 125 µg/m 3 not to be exceeded more than 3 times in a year.

These objectives are to be met by the end of 2004.

55 10.2 The National Perspective

Sulphur dioxide concentrations are measured at a number of sites across the UK as part of a national network. Concentrations have fallen at all sites in recent years, and the objectives were only exceeded at one site in Belfast between 1999 and 2001. This exceedance is associated with domestic coal burning which is still widespread in Belfast.

10.3 The Local Perspective – what conclusions have been drawn from the first round of review and assessment?

There have been a small number of AQMAs declared from the first round of Review and Assessment. These relate to emissions from coal-fired boilers at a cellophane process and a food processing plant, a coal-fired boiler at a hospital, domestic coal burning, and shipping at a major port.

The first round of Review and Assessment of air quality undertaken by Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council concluded that there were no relevant locations within the Borough at which the air quality objectives for sulphur dioxide would be exceeded.

10.4 Upgrading and Screening Assessment

10.4.1 Monitoring data outside an AQMA

Unfortunately due to a variety of hardware and software problems, no monitoring data

is available from the SO 2 fluorescent analyser located at the Jubilee Baths, Barracks Road, Newcastle.

10.4.2 Monitoring data within an AQMA

As a result of the first round of Review and Assessment of Air Quality, Newcastle- under-Lyme Borough Council has not declared any Air Quality Management Areas.

56 10.4.3 New industrial sources

No new industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of sulphur dioxide have been commissioned or proposed for the Borough.

10.4.4 Industrial sources with substantially increased emissions

Appendix B lists the types of industrial process with the potential to emit significant quantities of SO 2. There are two part A processes and seven part B processes within the Borough which fall into these categories. These are: -

• Johnson Matthey operate the two part A processes at their site on Liverpool road, Kidsgrove. The emissions from which were assessed as part of the first round of Review and Assessment and were found to be below the threshold of significance.

• Ibstock Brick Ltd. operate two brickworks at their sites at Parkhouse and Apedale Road, Chesterton. The emissions from which were assessed as part of the first round of Review and Assessment and were found to be below the threshold of significance.

• ECT Ltd. operate a tileworks at their site at Madeley Heath. The emissions from which were assessed as part of the first round of Review and Assessment and were found to be below the threshold of significance.

• Sweetmore Engineering operates a non-ferrous foundry at their site on Holditch Industrial Estate. The emissions from which were assessed as part of the first round of Review and Assessment and were found to be below the threshold of significance.

• Westleys Ltd. operate a non-ferrous foundry at their Trent Foundries site at Longbridge Hayes. The emissions from which were assessed as part of the first round of Review and Assessment and were found to be below the threshold of significance.

• Broxap operate a ferrous foundry at their Hillsyde foundry on Rowhurst Close, Apedale. The emissions from which were assessed as part of the first round of Review and Assessment and were found to be below the threshold of significance.

57 • Tarmac Central Ltd., operate a mineral process at their mill on West Ave, Talke. This type of process did not appear in the list of potentially significant

sources of SO 2 in the previous guidance and so no detailed assessment was undertaken during the first round. However the new guidance (LAQM. TG(03)) has a revised list of potentially significant processes. Tarmac operate an oil-fired sand dryer at their mill, such dryers can emit significant amounts

of SO 2 if they burn heavy fuel oil or coal. Tarmac however use low-sulphur

gas oil and so the emissions of SO 2 will not be significant.

10.4.5 Areas of domestic coal burning

The guidance suggests that areas where significant solid fuel burning takes place in relation to SO 2 emissions are where more than 100 houses are burning solid fuel as there primary source of heating in an area of 500 m x 500 m. As discussed previously in section 9.4.10, Bignall End has the highest density of houses where solid fuel is the primary source of heating. It has been calculated that there are only 25 houses in a 500 m x 500 m grid covering Bignall End that burn solid fuel as the primary source of

heating. Consequently solid fuel burning is not a significant source of SO 2 emissions

in this area. It follows that solid fuel heating is not a significant source of SO 2 emissions anywhere in the Borough.

10.4.6 Small boilers (>5MW(thermal) ) burning coal or oil

There are no boilers of this size burning coal or oil in the Borough.

10.4.7 Shipping

Large ships generally burn oils with a high sulphur content in their main engines. If there are sufficient movements in a port they can give rise to short-term concentrations above the objectives. The Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme is inland and consequently there are no ports to consider.

58 10.4.8 Railway Locomotives

Diesel and coal-fired locomotives emit sulphur dioxide. Moving locomotives however do not make a significant contribution to short term concentrations and do not need to be considered further. However if locomotives regularly stop for 15 minutes or more at a particular location then this would have to be investigated further if there are any ‘relevant locations’ within 15m.

There is only one railway station within the Borough, this is at Kidsgrove. This is a relatively small station with just two through lines. Consequently trains only stop for short periods to drop off and pick up passengers. There are no sidings where trains might idle.

Adjacent to the Borough Boundary at Longport/Longbridge Hayes is a smaller station but with goods sheds. However these are completely in the district of the neighbouring Authority of the City Of Stoke-on-Trent. There are no ‘relevant locations’ within 15m that are in the Borough of Newcastle.

10.5 Conclusions

It is not considered necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment for SO 2 due to the following: -

• No new industrial sources with the potential to emit significant quantities of

SO 2 have been commissioned or proposed for the Borough.

• There are no existing industrial sources with the potential to emit significant

quantities of SO 2 and hence no substantial increases in emissions from such sources.

• No areas were identified as having significant solid fuel burning.

• There are no boiler plant >5 MW (thermal) that burn coal or fuel oil in the Borough.

• There are no ports in the Borough.

• There are no locations where diesel locomotives are regularly stationary for periods of 15-minutes or more.

59 11. CONCLUSIONS

This Upgrading and Screening Assessment has not identified any risk that an air quality objective will be exceeded at any location with relevant public exposure. Consequently there is no need for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to proceed to undertake a Detailed Assessment of any of the seven pollutants of concern. Instead annual air quality Progress Reports will be prepared and submitted by the deadline of the end of April 2004 and the end of April 2005. These reports will cover all monitoring carried out over the calendar year. A further Upgrading and Screening Assessment will then be undertaken by the end of April 2006. This timetable and beyond to April 2010 is set out in the technical guidance LAQM. TG(03) and the policy guidance LAQM. PG(03).

Monitoring of pollutant concentrations should continue in order to ensure that the air quality objectives are not exceeded. In particular monitoring of NO 2 concentrations at ‘Collingwood’, Newcastle Rd, Little Madeley and Limbrick Cottage, Limbrick Road, Shraleybrook should continue. This is important because modelling suggests that the

annual mean NO 2 objective might not be met at these two locations. However predictions based on actual monitoring suggests that the annual mean concentrations in 2005 will be well below the objective value.

60 Appendix A

Air Quality Objectives

Substance Air quality objective levels Air quality objective dates 16.25 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a 31 st December 2003 running annual mean Benzene 5 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a running 31 st December 2010 annual mean 2.25 micrograms per cubic metre 1,3-Butadiene or less, when expressed as a 31 st December 2003 running annual mean 10 milligrams per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a Carbon monoxide 31 st December 2003 maximum daily running 8 hour mean 0.5 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an annual 31 st December 2004 mean Lead 0.25 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an 31 st December 2008 annual mean 200 micrograms per cubic metre, when expressed as an hourly 31 st December 2005 mean, not to be exceeded more Nitrogen Dioxide than 18 times a year 40 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an annual 31 st December 2005 mean 50 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a 24 hour 31 st December 2004 mean, not to be exceeded more PM 10 than 35 times a year 40 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an annual 31 st December 2004 mean 125 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a 24 hour 31 st December 2004 mean, not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year 350 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an hourly Sulphur dioxide 31 st December 2004 mean, not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year 266 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a 15 31 st December 2005 minute mean, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year

61 Appendix B

Annex 2 of LAQM.TG (03) lists those industrial processes with the potential to emit significant quantities of each pollutant. This has been used to produce the following tables, which list firstly the part A processes within the Borough and secondly the part B processes. A “ y” in the table indicates a potential to emit significant quantities of that particular pollutant and a “n” indicates no potential. It should be noted that where a “ y” has been indicated this does not necessarily mean that significant quantities are actually emitted from that particular process. It merely flags up the fact that this process is classified in annex 2 as being within a group of similar processes which have the potential to emit significant quantities. A post script number next to the y refers to notes following the tables which gives details of whether or not the emissions are actually significant.

62

Part A Processes

Authorisation Prescribed Carbon Sulphur Nitrogen Process Description Address Benzene 1,3 - Butadiene Lead PM Number Process Monoxide Dioxide Oxides 10 Johnson Matthey PLC, Inorganic Cadmium Pigment Liverpool Road East, AO0033 Chemical 1 n n 3 4 5 n Production y y y y Kidsgrove Process Johnson Matthey PLC, Small Batch (<250T) Acid Liverpool Road East, AT1407 n 2 n 3 4 n 6 Pigment Production Process y y y y Kidsgrove

Note

1 – no CO is emitted from this process. 2 – no benzene is emitted from this process

3 – emissions of SO 2 from these processes are not significant, being approx. 2.7 tonnes per annum. The threshold for significance is 30 tonnes per annum.

4 – there are no emissions of NO 2 from the inorganic chemical process and only a very small amount, 0.01 kg per annum, from the acid process which is insignificant. 5 – no lead is used or emitted by this process.

6 – PM 10 emissions were modelled as part of stage 3 of the first round of Review and Assessment. No exceedances of the objectives were predicted.

Based on information provided by the Environment Agency, the regulatory authority for part A processes.

63 63

Part B Processes

Authorisation Carbon Sulphur Nitrogen Process Description Address PG Note Benzene 1,3 - Butadiene Lead PM Number Monoxide Dioxide Oxides 10 Ibstock Building Products Ltd.

Heavy Clay Goods Parkhouse Works, Speedwell 03 PG3/2(95) n n n y7 n n n Rd, Chesterton, Newcastle ECT Ltd., Ridge Hill Drive, Heavy Clay Goods 04 PG3/2(95) n n n 7 n n n Madeley Heath, Nr. Crewe y Ibstock Building Products Ltd.

Heavy Clay Goods Chesterton Works, Apedale 05 PG3/2(95) n n n y7 n n n Rd, Chesterton, Newcastle Car-Comm Aid Ltd., Units 47- Coating Process 49 Parkhouse Ind.Est. West, 35 PG6/34(97) n n n n n n n (Vehicle Respraying) Newcastle, Staffs Hillsyde Foundry, Rowhurst Coating Process Ind. Est., Chesterton, 41 PG6/23(97) n n n n n n n (Coating of Metal) Newcastle BS Marson & Sons Ltd., Coating Process Lordsley Garage, Ashley, Nr. 52 PG6/34(97) n n n n n n n (Vehicle Respraying) Market Drayton Rackline Ltd., Jamage Ind. Coating Process Est., Talke Pits, Stoke-on- 56 PG6/31(96) n n n n n n n (Powder Coating) Trent G&B Packaging, Nelson Ind. Printing pending PG6/17(97) n n n n n n n Est., West Ave, Kidsgrove

Collins & Aikman, Lower Di-isocyanate 61 PG6/29(97) n n n n n n n Milehouse Lane, Newcastle

Odorising Natural Transco, Balterley, Nr. Audley 54 PG1/15(95) n n n n n n n Gas

Odorising Natural Broomco, Former Silverdale 78 PG1/15(95) n n n n n n n Gas Colliery, Newcastle Westley’s Ltd., Chemical PG2/4(96) Non-Ferrous Foundry Lane, Longport, Stoke-on- 16 n n n 8 n 10 n PG2/8(96) y y Trent 64 64

Part B Processes

Authorisation Carbon Sulphur Nitrogen Process Description Address PG Note Benzene 1,3 - Butadiene Lead PM Number Monoxide Dioxide Oxides 10 Sweetmore Engineering Ltd., PG2/4(96) Non-Ferrous Foundry Holditch Rd., Chesterton, 25 n n n 9 n 10 n PG2/8(96) y y Newcastle Hillsyde Foundry, Rowhurst PG2/3(96) Ferrous Foundry Ind. Est., Chesterton, 33 n n n n n 11 n PG2/4996) y Newcastle Waste Oil Burner BS Marson, Keele Rd. 08 PG1/1(95) n n n n n n n (<0.4MW) Garage, Newcastle Castletown Garage Ltd., Waste Oil Burner Liverpool Rd., Cross Heath, 10 PG1/1(95) n n n n n n n (<0.4MW) Newcastle Waste Oil Burner Major Motor Services, Chapel 53 PG1/1(95) n n n n n n n (<0.4MW) Street, May Bank, Newcastle

Waste Oil Burner AC Autos, Chetwynd St., 55 PG1/1(95) n n n n n n n (<0.4MW) Wolstanton, Newcastle Hanson Quarry Products Cement Process Europe Ltd., Almington Pit, 18 PG3/1(95) n n n n n n n Hales, Nr. Market Drayton Douglas Concrete & Cement Process Aggregates, Parkhouse Rd 27 PG3/1(95) n n n n n n n East, Chesterton, Newcastle Tarmac Central Ltd., Cement Process 82 PG3/1(95) n n n n n n n Rowhurst Close, Chesterton BOCM Pauls Ltd., Parkhouse Animal Feed Ind. Est. East, Chesterton, 36 PG6/26(96) n n n n n n n Compounding Newcastle Newcastle-under-Lyme Crematorium Borough Council, The 06 PG5/2(95) n n n n n n n Crematorium, Bradwell Tarmac Central Ltd., West PG3/8(96) Mineral Process 24 n n n 7 n n 12 Ave, Talke, Stoke-on-Trent PG3/15(96) y y

65 65 Part B Processes

Authorisation Carbon Sulphur Nitrogen Process Description Address PG Note Benzene 1,3 - Butadiene Lead PM Number Monoxide Dioxide Oxides 10

Hoben International, Spencroft Mineral Process 32 PG3/7(95) n n n n n n n Rd., Newcastle

Cherry Hill Skip Hire, High Mobile Crusher 74 PG3/16(96) n n n n n n n Carr, Chesterton, Newcastle

Cherry Hill Skip Hire, High Mobile Crusher 81 PG3/16(96) n n n n n n n Carr, Chesterton, Newcastle

Tesco, Liverpool Rd., Petrol Filling 57 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Kidsgrove

Asda, Wolstanton Retail Park, Petrol Filling 59 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Newcastle BP New Road Service Stn., Petrol Filling Newcastle Rd, Talke, Stoke- 60 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n on-Trent Esso Clayton Service Stn., Petrol Filling Clayton Rd., Clayton, 62 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Newcastle Save Service Stn., Newcastle Petrol Filling Rd., Loggerheads, Nr. Market 64 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Drayton

Petrol Filling Safeway, Goose St, Newcastle 65 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n

Texaco Higherland S/Stn, Petrol Filling 67 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Higherland , Newcastle Texaco Wolstanton S/Stn, Petrol Filling High St, Wolstanton, 68 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Newcastle Welcome Break (Keele Petrol Filling 69 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Services), M6 North

66 66

Part B Processes

Authorisation Carbon Sulphur Nitrogen Process Description Address PG Note Benzene 1,3 - Butadiene Lead PM Number Monoxide Dioxide Oxides 10

Welcome Break (Keele Petrol Filling 70 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Services), M6 South

Esso Holditch S/Stn, Talke Petrol Filling 71 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Rd., Newcastle United Norwest Co-op, Petrol Filling Jamage Rd, Talke Pits, Stoke- 73 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n on-Trent BP Swift Service Stn., Clayton Petrol Filling 76 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Rd., Clayton, Newcastle Wm. Morrison Supermarkets Petrol Filling plc, Lower Milehouse Lane, 77 PG1/14(96) n n n n n n n Newcastle CPL Distribution, Coal Process off A500,Wolstanton, 49 PG3/5(95) n n n n n n y13 Newcastle

Note

7 - emissions of SO 2 from these types of process are only significant if coal or heavy fuel oil is burned. None of these processes does so.

8 - emissions of SO 2 from Trent Foundries are approx. 1.3 tonnes per annum which is low. In addition there are no ‘relevant locations’ nearby.

9 - emissions of SO 2 from Sweetmore Engineering are approx. 1.3 tonnes per annum which is low. In addition there are no ‘relevant locations’ nearby. 10 – emissions of lead from both Trent Foundries and Sweetmore Engineering is approx. 14.9 kg per annum which is well below the threshold of significance, which is 175 kg per annum. 11 – the scrap, which is melted at Broxap’s Hillsyde Foundry, does not contain lead as this would have a deleterious effect on the product.

12 - PM 10 emissions were modelled as part of stage 3 of the first round of Review and Assessment. No exceedances of the objectives were predicted.

13 - PM 10 emissions were modelled as part of stage 3 of the first round of Review and Assessment. No exceedances of the objectives were predicted.

67 67

Appendix C

Nitrogen Dioxide Monitoring Results

The locations of diffusion tubes during 2001 and 2002 were as follows:-

Grid Ref Site Name Address Easting Northing K1-A34 Holy Trinity central reservation of A34 385051 345726 K2-King St, N/C 76 King St 385469 346362 UB1-Wolstanton Hartington St 384739 348326 UB2- Westlands Sneyd Crescent 383916 345059 1-Westbury Park 16 Prestbury Ave 384823 342472 3-Madeley ‘Collingwood’, Newcastle Rd 378116 345488 6-Kidsgrove 106 Liverpool Rd 384016 354428 7-Brook Lane outside 13 Brook Lane 384976 345593 9-Porthill Bank 32 Porthill Bank 385519 349055 10-Lower Milehouse 18 Lower Milehouse Lane 384263 347497 11-London Road, N/C 34 London Road 385112 345636 12-Oaktree Lane, Talke 54 Arbour Street 382709 352340 13-L’pool Rd, Dimsdale 392 Liverpool Road 384198 348093 14-Ryecroft near to 6 Florence Street 384921 346250 15-Congleton Road 218 Congleton Rd, Butt Lane 382660 354191 16-Grange Lane outside 2 Grange Lane 385841 347979 17-Barracks Road St George & St Giles School 385053 346090 19-Newchapel 93 High St 386019 354902 20-Basford 524 Etruria Road 386017 346614 21-Orford Street 64A Orford Street 385841 348959 22-Knutton Lane, Knutton 169 Knutton Lane 383509 346810 23-L’pool Rd, X Heath 228 Liverpool Road 384534 347347 24- High St, May Bank 36 High Street 385565 347511 25-Mill End, Audley Millend 379209 352375 26-Dimsdale Parade 306 Dimsdale Parade 384082 348811 27-Leamington Gardens 34 Leamington Gardens 386171 347380 28-Shraleybrook Limbrick Cottage, Limbrick Rd 377994 350105 29-Harpfields 158 The Avenue 385443 345246 30-Talke Rd, Talke Pits ‘Burnlea’, Talke Road 383010 351865

Where ‘no tube’ appears in the following tables this means that the tube at that location was missing on the day the tubes were changed.

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2001 Nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube results (micrograms per cubic metre)

2001 Corrected Predicted Annual Mean Annual Mean 2005 Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Mean K1-A34 Holy Trinity 54.9 54.9 44.1 35.3 no tube 28.4 42.2 46.4 40.5 38.5 54.3 55.6 45.0 44.1 39.3 11-London Rd, N/C 50.3 48.9 44.7 42.6 51.9 37.2 40.6 46.4 37.8 40 55.4 44.2 45.0 44.1 39.3 14-Ryecroft 51.6 50.3 40.4 34.0 30.7 25.7 28.9 33.1 33.8 36.3 64.8 47.6 39.8 38.9 34.7 6-Kidsgrove 45.4 44.4 33.9 40.9 45.1 35.2 39.5 43.9 30.1 23.3 47.0 44.3 39.4 38.6 34.4 3-Madeley 38.8 51.3 37.2 45.1 29.6 36.1 39.1 16.9 37.4 37.9 39.0 43.1 37.6 36.8 32.9 9-Porthill Bank 42.9 43.3 35.1 39.8 35.9 30.4 30.1 40.5 34.9 31.4 39.6 35.9 36.7 35.9 32.0 24-High St, May Bank 38.9 43.0 33.5 37.8 33.9 30.5 33.3 36.0 30.3 35.4 43.5 42.1 36.5 35.7 31.9 7-Brook Lane 43.4 42.7 41.4 27.9 32.1 31.3 no tube 32.3 30.3 26.3 39.6 32.9 34.6 33.8 30.2 21-Orford St 38.9 43.7 39.6 28.2 28.2 22.5 28.1 24.3 29.9 28.2 40.8 49.3 33.5 32.8 29.2 K2-King St, N/C 45.7 32.6 29.0 26.6 35.1 28.5 33.0 311 28.5 33.0 39.9 36.6 33.3 32.6 29.1 23-L’pool Rd, X Heath 35.1 45.5 35.2 33.0 30.0 23.6 31.1 31.1 25.5 29.2 39.0 35.7 32.8 32.1 28.7 10-Lower Milehouse 43.8 50.7 34.8 19.4 30.9 18.3 27.9 27.8 21.3 30.8 44.6 33.8 32.0 31.3 28.0 15-Congleton Road 31.5 38.6 27.7 32.3 28.4 24.8 28.6 21.4 25.4 29.8 33.6 38.4 30.9 30.2 27.0 17-Barracks Road 38.2 35.8 33.5 29.8 17.3 20.3 27.8 31.1 25.0 33.7 42.0 no tube 30.4 29.8 26.6 20-Basford 42.0 38.1 35.1 17.5 29.4 17.9 23.3 27.2 23.4 26.3 40.3 39.4 30.0 29.4 26.2 12-Oaktree Lane, Talke 42.6 34.3 26.7 12.0 21.3 25.3 28.2 38.5 25.8 23.7 21.9 33.2 28.6 28.0 25.0 1-Westbury Park 38.5 31.2 20.4 24.0 22.1 22.2 24.4 25.0 21.4 32.3 34.6 34.2 27.5 26.9 24.0 13-L’pool Rd, Dimsdale 33.1 40.2 31.1 24.5 15.3 21.3 24.2 26.4 29.3 24.9 26.3 33.3 27.5 26.9 24.0 22-Knutton Lane, Knutton 51.4 38.4 27.8 21.0 20.5 17.1 23.2 19.3 21.6 21.2 31.6 29.5 26.9 26.3 23.5 16-Grange Lane 38.3 35.8 29.9 21.2 19.2 16.9 16.6 24.0 21.5 20.9 32.7 29.9 25.6 25.0 22.3 19-Newchapel 40.7 31.8 24.3 20.8 17.3 15.5 17.4 23.0 20.2 21.5 29.5 31.2 24.4 23.9 21.3 UB1-Wolstanton 31.8 34.6 21.1 18.7 20.3 13.6 17.8 23.4 1.9 21.8 31.0 34.6 24.1 23.5 21.0 UB2-Westlands 34.2 30.9 25.1 16.0 16.9 14.4 17.9 14.6 18.3 11.1 16.0 33.0 20.7 20.3 18.1

69 69

2002 Nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube results (micrograms per cubic metre)

2002 Corrected Predicted Annual Mean Annual Mean 2005 Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Mean 11-London Rd, N/C 44.5 46.4 41.7 40.2 25.7 37.8 34.6 38.5 52.9 no tube 66.6 39.7 42.6 41.5 38.2 K1-A34 Holy Trinity 43.4 42.7 46.8 35.1 21.3 32.0 37.2 36.3 57.1 45.5 55.7 44.3 41.5 40.4 37.2 9-Porthill Bank 39.3 42.3 25.5 42.5 32.4 34.2 35.2 33.3 43.7 42.9 51.3 39.1 38.5 37.5 34.5 3-Madeley 46.4 52.8 38.8 32.4 33.6 40.7 37.5 30.1 27.2 39.4 41.9 34.7 38.0 37.0 34.1 28-Shraleybrook 36.6 47.9 37.2 33.5 28.2 47.4 39.4 27.9 31.1 36.4 37.9 36.7 36.7 35.8 32.9 6-Kidsgrove 40.6 37.4 33.7 no tube 28.0 28.5 7.2 37.5 48.4 37.3 56.7 42.8 36.2 35.3 32.5 24-High St, May Bank 37.7 36.9 38.2 31.3 25.6 35.6 33.0 31.3 39.8 36.9 no tube 41.0 35.2 34.3 31.6 14-Ryecroft 33.8 30.1 27.9 34.0 26.4 30.2 36.7 32.6 48.6 39.2 43.6 36.9 35.0 34.1 31.4 K2-King St, N/C 36.8 31.9 37.3 35.8 26.9 24.2 27.0 28.1 48.0 35.4 44.6 22.2 33.2 32.4 29.8 23-L’pool Rd, X Heath 30.7 28.6 28.4 30.4 20.0 24.4 29.7 26.7 42.3 38.2 41.6 34.0 31.3 30.5 28.0 21-Orford St 40.5 32.6 34.0 30.3 26.4 21.5 no tube 25.4 43.8 36.8 12.8 34.9 30.8 30.0 27.7 29-Harpfields 27.7 27.3 31.9 25.8 18.9 25.6 22.9 28.3 34.6 35.9 no tube 31.8 28.2 27.5 25.4 20-Basford 38.0 28.4 33.8 14.2 22.5 23.5 21.6 22.8 36.5 32.2 45.1 19.4 28.2 27.5 25.3 15-Congleton Road 28.4 22.1 29.0 25.5 21.5 19.6 25.2 19.5 35.5 36.2 42.1 28.5 27.8 27.1 24.9 30-Talke Rd, Talke Pits 30.0 19.6 29.3 19.9 17.8 22.9 23.1 26.5 27.1 33.0 36.5 36.3 26.8 26.2 24.1 27-Leamington Gardens 37.4 25.4 24.2 23.4 17.4 13.5 16.7 22.0 32.4 30.6 36.8 41.8 26.8 26.1 24.1 12-Oaktree Lane, Talke 32.8 24.74 23.4 22.8 17.8 20.0 19.6 23.5 33.3 30.5 37.9 26.2 26.0 25.4 23.4 10-Lower Milehouse 29.4 33.3 25.1 22.3 12.5 17.7 22.7 16.0 33.0 33.8 35.6 29.4 25.9 26.3 23.2 13-L’pool Rd, Dimsdale 30.4 25.6 24.1 29.4 11.7 21.8 21.8 22.0 25.7 29.0 35.1 31.6 25.7 25.0 23.1 26-Dimsdale Parade 27.5 28.2 23.4 21.2 14.5 16.9 22.2 18.9 25.3 34.9 41.6 26.6 25.1 24.5 22.5 16-Grange Lane 31.9 27.7 25.1 19.9 10.0 13.4 16.3 18.5 32.1 27.5 47.2 28.5 24.8 24.2 22.3 22-Knutton Lane, Knutton 28.0 21.9 24.1 23.1 14.1 16.0 18.5 24.7 25.0 28.9 33.6 28.2 23.8 23.2 21.4 UB1-Wolstanton 28.7 24.8 24.3 19.3 14.1 13.7 13.9 16.6 26.5 25.3 35.9 25.8 22.4 21.8 20.1 25-Mill End, Audley 23.6 22.6 20.9 18.1 12.3 14.9 17.1 21.8 29.3 24.7 32.1 26.0 22.0 21.4 19.7 UB2-Westlands 24.5 20.0 20.1 16.1 no tube 10.8 12.3 14.0 23.9 23.5 28.7 24.3 19.8 19.3 17.8 70 70

Appendix D

Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

“AADF” :-Annual average daily traffic flow

“AQMA” :- Air Quality Management Area

“aromatic” :- an organic compound where the carbon atoms are arranged in a ring structure rather than a chain.

“chemiluminescence” :- the release of energy in the form of light from a chemical reaction.

“CO” :- carbon monoxide

“DETR” :- the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (this government department no longer exists, the Environment functions were transferred to DEFRA)

“DEFRA” :- the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

“EPAQS” :- the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards. This was set up by the Secretary of State for the Environment in 1991 to advise the Government on air quality standards.

“LAQM” :- Local Air Quality Management

“micrograms” :- one millionth of a gram ( = one billionth of a kilogram)

“µµµg/m 3” :- micrograms per cubic metre.

“milligrams” :- one thousandth of a gram

“mg/m 3” :- milligrams per cubic metre

71

“micron” :- one millionth of a metre

“NO 2” :- nitrogen dioxide

“NO x” :- oxides of nitrogen

“olefins” :- also known as alkenes. These are unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.

“PM 10 ” :- particulate matter less than 10 microns aerodynamic diameter.

“ppb” :- parts per billion (one thousand million) by volume. (1ppb equates to 1/10,000,000 th of a percent

“ppm” :- parts per million by volume. (one part per hundred equates to 1%, therefore 1 ppm is equivalent to 1/10,000 th of a percent).

“running 8-hour mean” :- is a mean, which is calculated on an hourly basis, yielding one running 8-hour mean per hour. It is the mean of the hourly means for that hour and the preceding seven hours.

“SO 2” :- sulphur dioxide

72