Heatwave brings smog warnings

With daytime temperatures set to soar to 30 o C or more in England and Wales until Thursday, high concentrations of ground-level ozone are forecast. The hot, sunny weather this week together with contributions from continental Europe carrying the substances which form ground-level ozone will produce the high levels.

Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to see slightly lower levels of ozone towards the middle of the week.

The highest levels are expected to be measured towards the south west of England today, the Midlands and the north of England tomorrow and towards the south east of England on Wednesday and Thursday.

Ozone concentrations are likely to reduce to moderate and low across the UK as light cloud cover arrives and temperatures decline slight from Friday .

Particulate matter (PM 10 ) concentrations are likely to remain Low in most areas and Moderate near busy roads and industrial areas.

Despite the recent high levels of ozone, peak levels are generally decreasing in the UK thanks to tighter emission standards for road vehicles and controls on industrial processes and domestic sources.

Some people are more sensitive to ozone than others and may begin to notice an effect on their breathing. Avoiding exercise outdoors in the afternoon can reduce exposure. People with asthma are not necessarily more sensitive but, if affected, can use their 'reliever' inhaler. For further information on action to take during hot weather please see the Heat Wave plan ( www.dh.gov.uk ).

Ground level ozone is formed when sunlight acts on nitrogen dioxide and other atmospheric substances close to the ground. The pollutants that cause ground level ozone come from a range of sources, including petrol and other fuels.

Regular updates on levels of particulate matter (PM 10 ), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide are available on: TELETEXT (page 156), and the Internet www.airquality.co.uk (Air Quality Archive), which also offers health advice to those who may be particularly sensitive to air pollution.

Notes to Editors

Air Quality Measurement and Forecasts

Air pollution is described as "Low (1-3)", "Moderate (4-6)", "High (7-9)" or "Very High (10)" The classifications were chosen on the basis of effects on health and are based on the latest medical and scientific research. Full details of the bands for all the pollutants are available on the Defra website.

In addition to the sources of air quality information described in the press release, the information and the air pollution forecast is also sent by e-mail, free of charge, every day to a variety of outlets including regional and national newspapers, television and radio stations, environmental groups, local authorities, and international organisations (e.g. RIVM in the Netherlands). If you would like to be added to this individual service, ring the Government's contractors at the National Environmental Technology Centre (Paul Willis on 01235-463191)

Health Advice

The following advice on health applies when air pollution is "high" or "very high"

"During episodes of air pollution experienced during the summer in the United Kingdom, levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particles may be raised. Most people will experience no ill effects. Those suffering from lung diseases (including asthma) particularly if elderly should be aware that their symptoms might worsen. They may need to consider modifying their treatment as they usually do when symptoms increase, consulting their doctors as necessary if this is not effective.

People who have noticed in the past that their breathing is affected on hot, sunny days should avoid strenuous outdoor activity, particularly in the afternoon. Children with asthma should be able to take part in games in the usual way, although they may need to increase their use of reliever medicines before participating. There is no need for them to stay away from school.

Those suffering from a heart condition and who notice a change in their symptoms should get medical advice as they normally would."

Health advice is also available on TELETEXT (Page 156).

For leaflets and advice to health and social care services during hot weather see the Heat Wave plan ( www.dh.gov.uk ). Vulnerable groups at risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke should keep out of the heat and ensure adequate ventilation of homes, keep body temperatures down by taking cool showers and drinks and contact GP if concerned.

Presentation of the information

When air pollution levels are presented to the public, an overall summary is provided followed by pollutant specific information. When the overall summary is presented for each region, levels of air pollution are described as those occurring in the highest band for any individual pollutant. For example, if levels of all pollutants in a region were low, with the exception of one pollutant that was high, then in the overall summary the air pollution for that region would be described as "high".

Action individuals can take to reduce pollution.

Road vehicles are a major source of many pollutants in urban areas. Before using your car ask yourself - do I really need to make this journey? Do I really need to use the car, or could I walk or cycle?

If you must drive, switch off the engine if you expect to be stationary for more than a couple of minutes, and drive smoothly - it will save you fuel and money and you will emit less pollution. Avoid overfilling the petrol tank and spilling petrol - this evaporates and releases hydrocarbons that are toxic and form ozone.

Buy water-based or low-solvent paints, glues, varnishes, and wood preservatives wherever you can.

Avoid burning solid fuels if you can.

UK

The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was originally published in 2000. it aims to:

- map out as far as possible current and future ambient air quality policy in the United Kingdom in the medium term

- provide the best practicable protection to human health and the environment by setting the evidence based objectives for the main air pollutants, and

- describe the air pollution climate in the UK to provide a framework to allow all those who contribute to air pollution, who have a part to play in its abatement, or are affected by it, to identify their role in improving air quality

- the Strategy sets National Air Quality Objectives for 9 major air pollutants: benzene, 1,3 butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulphur dioxide to be achieved between 2003 – 2010. These are similar, or in some cases, tighter than EU Directive limit values.

- UK met the objectives for 4 pollutants in 2005 and are meeting our current objectives for all air pollutants in most parts of the country – up to 99.5% in some cases and only limited number of hotspot areas remain. But we missed objectives for nitrogen dioxide (2005) and ozone (2005) and very marginally missed those for particulates (2004) in some parts of the UK.

- The Strategy has recently been reviewed to find potential new measures to generate health benefits and move us closer to meeting the objectives. A consultation document setting out options for further improvement of air quality was published on 5 th April 2006, with responses requested by 11 th July. The responses are now being considered .

The document is still available on Defra's website: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/airqualstrat-review/index.htm . The new consultation includes:

- a package of measures which will reduce average exposure to air pollutants for everyone; which if implemented could see increase in life expectancy of three months by 2020;

- The range of measures, includes

•  new tighter European vehicle emissions standards (so called Euro-standards);

•  incentives for cleaner vehicles;

•  further reductions in emissions from small combustion plants;

•  further reductions in emissions from ships;

Europe

The ozone Directive (2002/3/EC; third Daughter Directive) that was transposed into UK legislation by 9 September 2003 sets target values for ozone for the protection of human health and the protection of vegetation to be attained by 2010. Target values are not mandatory; however where the target values are not met the UK must put in place plans or programmes to attain the target values, save where not achievable through proportionate measures. The ozone Directive also sets long-term objectives for ozone levels for the protection of human health and vegetation with the year 2020 as a bench-mark. The Directive also requires that the public be informed when hourly levels are above an 'information threshold' of 180 micrograms per metre cubed or an ‘alert threshold' of 240 micrograms per metre cubed and the UK complies with this requirement using the National Air Quality Information Archive ( www.airquality.co.uk ) and TELETEXT (p 156).

The target values in the ozone Directive were developed in line with the national emissions ceilings for NOx and VOCs, ozone precursors, set under the National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NECD).

A proposal from the European Commission was published on 9 th September 2005 which reviewed the Air Quality Framework Directive (96/62/EEC) and the first three daughter Directives. The pollutants covered in the review include oxides of nitrogen, particles and ozone. The proposal is currently under negotiation.

Defra, UK News releases 2006August 2003 Summer Smog Episode

A short report entitled ‘An estimate of the health impact of the August 2003 Photochemical episode' by John Stedman at Netcen was published on 13 January 2004. This estimated the contribution of ground level ozone and particulate matter (PM 10 ) to the number of deaths brought forward by in the first two weeks of August 2003. The short report is available on the Air Quality

Website:

http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/cat09/0401130931_heatwave2003.pdf

End

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