Scottish Government
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Revised air quality strategy
Proposals to tackle air pollution to help improve quality of life and reduce environmental damage in Scotland are outlined in the revised Air Quality Strategy published today.
Minister for Environment Michael Russell said:
"Air quality has improved over the past decade thanks to reduced emissions and improved technology and we are currently meeting targets for all air pollutants across the vast majority of Scotland.
"A great deal of progress has been made in reducing air pollution, but we still need to do more. Some urban areas still exceed air quality objectives and EU limit values. In these areas air pollution continues to pose a threat to public health and the environment.
"The revised Air Quality Strategy, published today, underlines our determination to make further progress in tackling air pollution, in order to improve our quality of life."
The Air Quality Strategy, covering the whole of the UK, is one of the most comprehensive environmental studies undertaken. It takes a more wide ranging approach to addressing pollutants and sets a longer term agenda to look at how air pollution impacts on both health and the environment.
The proposals outlined could potentially deliver large reductions in air pollution, generating significant health and environmental benefits.
Domestic air quality objectives have been set for nine of the major air pollutants: benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulphur dioxide. European Directive limit and/or target values are also in place for these pollutants.
All objectives and limit and/or target values are being met across the vast majority of Scotland. Domestic objectives for nitrogen dioxide and particles which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and the EU Limit Value for nitrogen dioxide, are currently not being achieved in a few urban hotspots. The local authorities affected have all declared Air Quality Management Areas and are implementing action plans to tackle the issues identified.
The revised Air Quality Strategy considers options which modelling suggests could reduce average exposure to air pollutants for everyone. The options include:
- early uptake of new tighter European vehicle emissions standards
- increased uptake of low emission vehicles
- reducing emissions from ships
The strategy retains the objectives for the main pollutants of concern, and introduces a new policy framework for tackling fine particles (PM2.5) which have no safe health threshold. It also sets an agenda for the longer term to improve our understanding of air pollution and look at what further reductions might be feasible.
Related Information
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Pollution/16215/6116
