How we check air quality
We have a legal obligation to review and assess air quality across the county, as set out in Section 82 of the Environment Act 1995.
How air quality is reviewed and assessed
We complete an annual review and assessment to determine whether specific areas of the county meet national air quality objectives for various pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide and particulates (pollutants from road traffic emissions). A full list of pollutants which are reviewed and assessed and the National UK Air Quality Objectives is available:
| Pollutant | Objective | Averaging Period |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 200μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year | one hour mean |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 40μg/m3 | annual mean |
| Particulate Matter (PM10) | 50μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year | 24 hour mean |
| Particulate Matter (PM10) | 50μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than seven times a year | 24 hour mean |
| Particulate Matter (PM10) | 40μg/m3 | annual mean |
| Particulate Matter (PM10) | 18μg/m3 | annual mean |
| Particulate Matter (PM2.5) | Work towards reducing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) | annual mean |
| Particulate Matter (PM2.5) | 10μg/m3 | annual mean |
| Sulphur dioxide (SO2) | 266μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year | 15 minute mean |
| Sulphur dioxide (SO2) | 350μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year | one hour mean |
| Sulphur dioxide (SO2) | 125μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year | 24 hour mean |
| Benzene (C6H6) | 16.25μg/m3 | running annual mean |
| Benzene (C6H6) | 5μg/m3 | annual mean |
| Benzene (C6H6) | 3.25μg/m3 | running annual mean |
| 1,3-Butadiene (C4H6) | 2.25μg/m3 | running annual mean |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | 10mg/m3 | maximum daily running eight hour mean |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | 10mg/m3 | running eight hour mean |
| Lead (Pb) | 0.25μg/m3 | annual mean |
Reporting air quality standards
We must carry out an air quality review and assessment and report on the status of air quality across the county to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) annually. The Annual Air Quality Status report will provide:
- A summary of progress of the implementation of the air quality improvement measures within an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP);
- The details of air quality monitoring data for the previous year.
Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR) (PDF, 1 MB) for 2024.
All maps in these documents are reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Durham County Council. LA 100049055. 2016.
What happens if air quality standards are exceeded
Once we are satisfied that the outcome of monitoring and detailed assessment work highlights a likely breach of an air quality objective, then we must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
Once declared, we must then work with local residents, partners and others such as transport users and providers, to agree an action plan to improve air quality in the area covered by the AQMA. The action plan is a detailed document that sets out proposals to improve air quality in a variety of ways. These may include transport planning, land use, energy management, healthy living and environmental initiatives.
You can find more information related to air quality in specific areas of the county:
Further information
We can provide further information about air quality and pollution control. Please Contact Pollution Control for:
- paper copies, or alternative formats, of any of the electronic reports on this page
- information on previous review and assessment reports
- any questions or concerns about air quality in the county answered
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