Air
Air quality is a phrase used to describe the concentrations of specific pollutants within the air that we breath, and allows us to describe the air quality within a particular location.
Air Quality Monitoring Stations
The Environmental Protection Unit managed two automated monitoring stations at Richmond Hill and Quarterbridge between 1997 - 2009, which were used to collect data from a rural and an urban location. Both of these stations recorded data for the following pollutants:
- Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)
- Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM 2.5)
- Ozone
The most recent results of the air quality monitoring at these two sites is available in the table at the bottom of this page. The monitoring stations were discontinued further to results indicating continued good air quality. The only occasional exception is of intermittent concern in respect of ozone whose souce is most likely the UK and therefore beyond the control of the IoM Government.
Air Quality Standards and Objectives
The two automated stations at Richmond Hill and Quarterbridge reported data in accordance with the Isle of Man adopted air quality objectives. These are based on those standards detailed within the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland issued by DEFRA (former DETR) in 2000.
The Isle of Man Air Quality Standard specifies objective concentrations and allowed exceedances for NO2, SO2, CO, PM10 and O3: Table 1, detailed below, summarises the objective concentrations and allowed exceedances relevant to each pollutant monitored at the automated monitoring stations:
Table 1: Isle of Man Air Quality Objective Concentrations and Allowed Exceedances
| Pollutant | Objective | Measured As | Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concentration | Exceedances per Year | ||
| Carbon Monoxide | 10ppm | Running 8 hour mean | 0 |
| Nitrogen Dioxide | 105ppb | 1 hour mean | 18 |
| 21ppb | Annual Mean | - | |
| PM10 | 50ug/m3 | 24 Hour Mean | 35 |
| 40ug/m3 | Annual Mean | - | |
| Sulphur Dioxide | 132 ppb | 1 hour mean | 24 |
| 47ppb | 24 hour mean | 3 | |
| 100ppb | 15 minute mean | 35 | |
| Ozone | 50ppb | Running 8 Hour mean | 10 |
| PM2.5 | N/A | - | - |
Passive Air Quality Monitoring Station
Oxides of nitrogen are important pollutants because they initiate a sequence of reactions leading to photochemical smog formation. It is therefore referred to as a photochemical pollutant i.e. reacts in light to form pollution products which are irritant to the eyes and mucous membranes of the throat, nose and lung, as well as forming a major role in the formation of low level pollutant ozone.
During 1997 - 2009, data was collected from four sites within Douglas and reported within the UK Nitrogen Dioxide Network Study managed by netcen
For information relating to archived UK national air quality information, visit www.airquality.co.uk
For further information, please contact simon.renton@gov.im or telephone 01624 685892.
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