Assessment and Review of Air Quality
Air quality in Harlow is assessed
as part of the National Air Quality Strategy. This reviews the
evidence for health effects for known air pollutants and sets
national objectives: a summary of the National Air Quality Strategy
is given on the Consortium website http://www.essexair.org.uk/ and
full information is available from the website of the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/strategy
Local authorities have
reviewed local sources of air pollution and considered whether it
is likely that the national objectives will be breached.
This was done in a
three-stage process:
1. information on possible sources,
including industry and major roads was collected.
2. Where there were sources, whether these
could cause air quality standards to be breached was considered. If
it was clear that they would not, they were excluded from further
work.
3. Where it was not possible to exclude a
breach, a more detailed assessment was carried out, using modelling
and monitoring.
The outcome in Harlow,
mirroring the national picture, was that none of the industrial
sources was an issue.
Most larger roads were
excluded early in the process, but because it is a busy road with
housing quite close to it, the length of A414 running north to
south between the M11 and the A1184 received detailed assessment.
Monitoring and modelling showed that levels would not exceed the
standards set at this stage.
Since this three-stage
process was carried out, Updating and Screening Assessments have
been undertaken every three years and Progress Reports have been
submitted in other years. The latest information is available at
http://www.essexair.org/ on
the Harlow pages.
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