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National Air Pollution Descriptions
The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions have specified guidelines for describing air pollution levels.
Air quality is described using four bands:
- Low - effects are unlikely to be noticed even by individuals who know they are sensitive to air pollutants.
- Moderate - mild effects which are unlikely to require action may be noticed amongst sensitive individuals.
- High - significant effects may be noticed by sensitive individuals and action to avoid or reduce these effects may be needed (e.g. reducing exposure by spending less time in polluted areas indoors). Asthmatics will find that their "reliever" inhaler is likely to reverse the effects on the lung.
- Very High - the effects on sensitive individuals described for "high" levels of pollution may worsen.
| Description of Air Pollution | Low | Moderate | High | Very High | |
| Pollutant | Units | ||||
| Sulphur dioxide | Parts per billion, 15 minute average | Less than 100 | 100 - 199 | 2000 - 399 | 400 or more |
| Ozone | parts per billion | less than 50 (8 hour running average) | 50 - 89 (hourly average) | 90 - 179 (hourly average) | 180 or more (hourly average) |
| Carbon monoxide | Parts per million, 8 hour average | Less than 10 | 10 - 14 | 15 - 19 | 20 or more |
| Nitrogen dioxide | parts per billion, hourly average | less than 150 | 150 - 299 | 300 - 399 | 400 or more |
| Fine particles (PM10) | micrograms per cubic metre, 24 hour running average | less than 50 | 50 - 74 | 75 - 99 | 100 or more |
Benzene and 1,3-butadiene have not been included in this system since changes in short term concentrations are not interpretable in terms of effects on health.
Hourly National Air Pollution information can be found on:
- CEEFAX Pages 417
- TELETEXT Page 156
- Air Quality freephone helpline - 0800 556677
- |DEFRA website
Local Air Quality information can be found at |Current air pollution levels within Elmbridge.
