Air
Air Quality
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.
Automated Air Monitoring Stations
The Environmental Protection Unit manage two automated monitoring stations at Richmond Hill and Quarterbridge, which are used to collect data from rural and urban locations. Both of these stations were commissioned during March/April 1997 and have been recording data for the following pollutants:
- Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)
- Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM 2.5)
- Ozone
- Wind Speed and direction
- Temperature
The results of the air quality monitoring at these two sites is available in the table at the bottom of this page.
Air Quality Standards and Objectives
The two automated stations at Richmond Hill and Quarterbridge report 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.
Currently, data collected from four sites within Douglas are 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
Emissions Inventory
The Department has undertaken an assessment of the air pollution sources on the Island and developed an Emissions Inventory. This work also includes air quality modelling for future years, namely 2005 and 2010. The findings of this work present the Department with a baseline data set on which to amend and improve the existing ambient air quality monitoring network and thus identify objectives for targeted reductions required in local air quality.
For further information, please contact simon.renton@gov.im or telephone 01624 685892.
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