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Ward Question - 23rd July 2009 |
Under Standing Order 14, Councillor L.E. Nichols submitted the following question; in his absence; Councillor C.V. Strong asked the question on his behalf.
“The Council is currently undertaking measurement of particulate matter (PM10s) at Sunbury Cross close to the A316 slip road. Bearing in mind that the Council has received funding support from DEFRA for this exercise, could measurements also be taken on the M3 side, where residents living close to Halliford station complain of bad air pollution? Could the measuring also be extended to include the smaller PM3 particles which are in fact those considered most injurious to lung and heart health?”
In the absence of Councillor L.E. Nichols it was agreed that a written response would be provided.
The written response provided is set out below:
“The Council’s air quality monitoring station was specifically set up in the Sunbury Cross area because it has the poorest air quality in Spelthorne. This is due to the high volumes of traffic and congestion in the area, particularly where the M3, A316 and A308 converge at the Sunbury Cross roundabout.
We currently measure airborne particulates by filtering out and weighing all particles that are 10 microns or less in size. These are scientifically known as PM10. We have been monitoring in this way at Sunbury Cross since 2007 and our results to date have indicated that the Government’s national air quality objectives for PM10 are unlikely to be exceeded in this area.
Although Halliford is close to the M3, it does not experience traffic congestion to the extent of Sunbury Cross. It is therefore highly unlikely that the national air quality objectives for PM10 will be exceeded at Halliford. Consequently we cannot justify moving the current monitoring station from Sunbury Cross to Halliford or setting up an additional monitoring station, which would cost in the region of £10,000.
We are not aware of any local authority currently monitoring for PM3. Although the Government has set new national air quality objectives for smaller particles of 2.5 microns or less in size (known as PM2.5), these objectives have not been incorporated into Local Air Quality Management Regulations. We cannot, therefore, justify the costs of modifying our equipment to monitor PM2.5 at this time without receiving further financial support from DEFRA.
Particulate matter
Particulate matter (PM10) – solid/liquid particles suspended/carried in air.
Sources: Man-made include burning of diesel fuels, incineration of rubbish, mixing and applying fertilizers and pesticides, road construction, steel making, mining, field burning, forest fires, fireplaces and woodstoves.
Natural include volcanic eruptions, forest fires.
Scientific studies have linked particulate matter, especially fine particles with a series of significant health problems which result in work/school absences, respiratory related hospital admissions and emergency room visits and premature death. Health impacts include:
· Aggravated asthma;
· Acute respiratory symptoms, including aggravated coughing and difficult or painful breathing;
· Chronic bronchitis;
· Decreased lung function that can be experienced as shortness of breath.
Some size comparisons for a micron (otherwise call a micrometer)
1 micron = 1 millionth of a metre (or 0.000001 metres)
10 microns = 0.00001 metres
1 millimetre = 1 thousandth of a metre (or 0.001 metres).”