Initial review of air quality aspects of the Buncefield oil depot explosion

This report presents and summarises the air quality measurements made during the Buncefield oil depot fire. It is authored by Netcen (Defra’s contractors), the Met Office and the Health Protection Agency (HPA). It includes results obtained from targeted local monitoring undertaken in and around the plant; this was organised by Defra, Netcen, HPA, Hertfordshire Fire Brigade and the Met Office. The report also includes measurements from long-term monitoring networks supported by Defra and the Devolved Administrations and Local Authorities in the southeast of England. In addition, the modelling undertaken by the Met Office and emissions estimates of the pollutants from the fire are also included in the report.

• Initial review of air quality aspects of the Buncefield oil depot explosion – main text (1.59 MB) - NB large filesize
• Initial review of air quality aspects of the Buncefield oil depot explosion – appendices (2.27 MB) - NB large filesize
• News release 202/06 issued 9 May 2006

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Background information

• Buncefield Investigation website [www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk]
• Health Protection Agency website [www.hpa.org.uk]
• National Air Quality Information Archive [www.airquality.co.uk]
• London Air Quality Network [www.londonair.org.uk]
• Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Air Pollution Monitoring Network [www.hertsbedsair.org.uk]
• Kent and Medway Air Quality Monitoring Network [www.kentair.org.uk]
• Sussex Air Quality Network [www.sussex-air.net]