Frequently asked questions about air quality in Thanet

What is the air quality like within the Thanet area?

The air quality in the Thanet area is, for the most part, good. The main findings of the review and assessment of air quality in the District to date (undertaken by the Council as part of its statutory duties under the Environment Act 1995) are that the Government set Air Quality Objectives are likely to be achieved in all but one area. There is a localised area at The Square, Birchington where it is anticipated that the Objectives will be difficult to achieve for nitrogen dioxide and fine particles. This area will be declared an Air Quality Management Area and an Action Plan drawn up to put in place measures to improve air quality within the area.

For further information on air quality in the Thanet area contact the Environmental Protection Officer on 01843 577580.

What is the main source of air pollution in the Thanet Area?

The two main pollutants of concern in the Thanet Area, as in the rest of the UK, are nitrogen dioxide and fine particles. Road transport is the major source of nitrogen dioxide. Particles come from a range of sources, including road transport, industry, domestic and commercial fuel use and natural sources e.g. dust, pollen, salt. Within Thanet Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), traffic is the major contributor to air pollution.

Which pollutants are monitored in Thanet?

Nitrogen Dioxide, Benzene, Fine Particles (PM10) and Ozone are currently monitored by passive diffusion tube and real time monitoring equipment.

What is Nitrogen Dioxide?

Nitrogen oxides are formed during high temperature combustion processes from the oxidation of nitrogen in the air or fuel. The principal source of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) is road traffic, which is responsible for approximately half the emissions in Europe. Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations are therefore greatest in urban areas where traffic is heaviest.

Different vehicles give off different amounts of nitrogen oxides. Larger and older vehicles, particularly diesel, produce more nitrogen oxides than new vehicles. New vehicles are ‘cleaner’ because of new technology, such as catalytic converters

Nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere mainly in the form of nitric oxide, which is then readily oxidised to nitrogen dioxide by reaction with ozone (O₃). Elevated levels of nitrogen oxides occur in urban environments under stable meteorological conditions, where the air mass is unable to disperse. Nitrogen Dioxide is measured in microgrammes per cubic metre (m g/m³).

For the purposes of local air quality management, nitrogen dioxide is the pollutant of concern as it has a variety of environmental and health impacts. It is a respiratory irritant, may exacerbate asthma and possibly increase susceptibility to infections.

What are Fine Particles?

Fine particles are microscopic air-borne solid matter. They include natural material such as sea salt and volcanic ash. However, a substantial amount is generated from man-made sources such as industrial processes, the combustion of fuels and movement of road traffic. Particles less than 10µm in size (10 millionths of a metre) are considered most likely to be deposited in the lung. Particles are measured in microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³).

What is a diffusion tube?

This is a simple and relatively inexpensive device consisting of a plastic tube (about the size of a finger) which can be attached to street furniture (e.g. a street light) allowing a sample of air to be collected (over a recorded exposure period e.g. month) by diffusion into the sampler. The sampler absorbs nitrogen dioxide and can be used to give estimates of the annual average levels. Therefore these results can only be compared to the annual mean objectives for the pollutants. The tubes are sealed and then sent off for quantitative analysis. They are not as accurate and precise as automatic monitors but give a good general indication of average pollutant levels. As passive diffusion tubes have been used since 1993 they also help demonstrate trends in NO₂ levels over time.

Map of monitoring Locations 2005 (pdf) 

What is a real time monitoring?

The council operates four continuous monitoring sites providing up to date information on various pollutants.

• Marsh Farm Rd, Minster - Ozone
• Kentmere Ave, Ramsgate – Nitrogen Dioxide and Benzene
• Boundary Road, Ramsgate - Nitrogen dioxide and Particulate Matter
• College Road, Margate – Nitrogen Dioxide

Automatic real-time monitors produce high-resolution measurements over short averaging period e.g. 15 minutes. The air sample is analysed on-line and in real-time. This method offers continuous data, which identifies peaks and troughs during a short period e.g. 24 hours.

There are different types of analysers for each pollutant.  The data that they collect is stored in a data logger, which is then downloaded to a central computer where it is interrogated and analysed.

The analysers are regularly calibrated and annually audited to ensure that the data collected is as accurate as possible.

Why is pollution a problem?

If  you are in good health the levels of air pollution in the UK is usually such that no serious short term side effects should be encountered. On rare occasions very high levels of pollution may cause some people to feel eye irritation, also coughing may occur and breathing may become painful.

People with lung diseases or heart conditions are at greater risk from air pollution especially those who are elderly. Increases in hospital admissions and premature deaths of the seriously ill can rise with the increase of pollutant levels in the atmosphere.

Asthmatics may find that air pollution can trigger attacks or cause increased use of inhalers. There is however little evidence that air pollution causes asthma to develop. If your child has asthma they should still be able to take part in physical exercise, but they may need to make use of their inhaler before they start. Children should not need to stay away from school due to asthma.

Smoking will have a much greater effect on your health than air pollution. If you give up smoking you are less likely to suffer from lung and heart diseases which can be effected by the levels of pollution. Quitting smoking will also decrease your vulnerability to the short term effects of air pollution.

What is an AQMA

An Air Quality Management Area is an area where air pollution is expected to be above the Government's target levels in the future and where people could be exposed to that pollution, unless action is taken to improve air quality. As air quality improves, it may be possible to reduce the size of the AQMA.