08 February 2012Air pollution describes the unwanted chemicals and elements that contaminate and degrade the air we breathe.
Air pollution, particularly in cities, is not a new problem and poor urban air quality has been documented from as early as the end of the 16th century! Tighter controls on both industrial and domestic sources of pollution have led to lower levels of pollutants and the trend is for their impact on air quality to remain steady or improve over time, in all except worst-case situations.
Now the major threat to clean air is from the increase in vehicles and their emissions. The Sevenoaks area includes several motorways and major trunk roads and the emissions from motor vehicles has a corresponding impact on air quality.
Petrol and diesel engines emit a wide variety of pollutants which have an increasing impact on air quality, particularly in urban areas. Photochemical reactions from the action of sunlight on pollutants such as NO2 and VOCs lead to ozone forming and the effects of ozone (a secondary long range pollutant), are often apparent some distance from the emissions source.
Accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information on the air we breathe is available from the Air Pollution Information Service which reports on the levels of the five main air pollutants that can affect health. Understanding of the long term health effects of exposure to air pollution is limited although research is continuing.
Everyone can do their bit to help reduce air pollution by being aware of local conditions and the effect their actions have on them. Simple measures such as driving smoothly or keeping car tyres at the right pressure can help to reduce air pollution and improve air quality.
The principal cause of poor air quality in the Sevenoaks district is the large volume of road traffic that uses the motorways and major trunk roads.
Whilst the District Council has to rely on National Strategies and the Highways Agency to introduce local measures for these roads, it actively investigates and encourages decisions to improve local air quality.
It also monitors and measures local air quality and produces Action Plans in line with the National Air Quality Strategy.
For more information please contact the Environmental Protection team at
Air.quality.consultations@sevenoaks.gov.uk
Or by telephone 01732 227278
