Air pollution

Air pollution is a type of environmental pollution that affects the air and is usually caused by smoke or other harmful gases, mainly oxides of carbon, sulphur and nitrogen.

Air pollution can cause both short term and long term effects on health and many people are concerned about pollution in the air that they breathe. These people may include:

• People with heart or lung conditions, or other breathing problems, whose health may be affected by air pollution
• Parents, carers and healthcare professionals who look after someone whose health is sensitive to pollution
• People who want to know more about air pollution, its causes, and what they can do to help reduce it
• The scientific community and students, who may need data on air pollution levels, either now or in the past, throughout the UK

In May 1997 the Government produced theNational Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) (opens new window). The strategy represents a comprehensive approach to maintaining and improving the quality of ambient air in the United Kingdom. 

In Breckland, as well as recording meteorological data, the monitoring station is equipped to monitor for: fine particles (PM10) oxides of nitrogen (NOx) ozone (O3) There is also an extensive network of diffusion tubes for NO2.

Full information on what the Air Quality Objectives are can be found on theDEFRA website. (opens new window)

Breckland Air Quality

Information and maps regarding air quality in Breckland can be found on the following websiteBreckland Air Quality (opens new window)

How do I report a problem with air pollution?

You are able to report a problem with smoke, odour or air pollution online by clicking on the button below

Report smoke, odour or air pollution online

Air quality is a term used to describe how polluted the air we breathe is. Pollutants in the air may be hazardous to people's health. Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades, but there are still unacceptable levels of air pollution in many towns and cities in the UK.

The main causes of poor air quality are industrial and road traffic emissions with diesel fuel being the biggest source of pollution in many towns and cities across the UK.

Less well known is the pollution that comes from heating appliances including wood burning stoves and open fires. Further information on how to reduce the pollution from these can be found on our pageOpen fires and wood burning stoves.

National government and local authorities are committed to improving air quality, a commitment that has been written into law. 

The pollutants of main concern are:

• Nitrogen dioxide: The annual mean concentration should not exceed 40µg/m3. The one-hour mean objective should not exceed 200µg/m3 more than 18 times per year.
• Particulate matter (PM10): The annual mean concentration should not exceed 40µg/m3. The 24-hour mean objective should not exceed 50µg/m3 more than 35 times per year.

Radon

We are continually exposed to low level radiation throughout our life, which is perfectly normal and does not cause any health effects.

Radon is a radioactive gas, we can't see, smell or taste it: you need special equipment to detect it. It comes from the rocks and soil found everywhere in the UK. The radon level in the air we breathe outside is very low but can be higher inside buildings.

Public Health England provides adetailed guide about Radon (opens new window) on its website.

AQMA - Swaffham

There is an issue with traffic-related nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in Swaffham town centre. Annual objectives had been exceeded and it was decided that action should be taken. Therefore, at the Cabinet meeting on 21 March 2017, it was agreed that an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for traffic related nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) be declared in Swaffham. 

The boundary is marked on the  Air Quality Management Area Order 2017 (PDF) [901KB] (opens new window)

We have 17 different diffusion tubes and one continuous monitor in Swaffham measuring levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in and around the town.

Approved Swaffham Air Quality Action Plan

The council has produced an  Action Plan (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)  that is based on a public consultation and in consultation with our Statutory Consultees and this was submitted to DEFRA in the autumn of 2018.

DEFRA provided their response to our plan.

•   DEFRA's response and recommendations (PDF) [165KB] (opens new window)

We will be reviewing the Action Plan and working with our partner organisations, in line with the recommendations made by DEFRA, and will report on progress to DEFRA each year to ensure the measures are still effective. The website will be updated with any progress.

The Action plan is regularly updated, as included in the annual status reports, with revisions made in mid-2021 added to the  2021 Annual Status Report (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window) . Further work to revise the Action plan was carried out in late 2021, and these updates are being reported to council members, our partners and interested organisations through our  Swaffham AQAP Action - 2021 (PDF) [419KB] (opens new window)  document.

For more information please email: enviroprotect@breckland.gov.uk

Local Authorities are required to carry out regular reviews and assessments of air quality in their areas. This involves measuring air pollution and trying to predict how it will change in the next few years. The aim of the review is to make sure that thenational air quality objectives. (opens new window) will be achieved throughout the UK by the relevant deadlines. These objectives have been put in place to protect people's health and the environment.

These arereported annually to DEFRA. If an exceedance of any objectives are likely the Local Authority is required to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and then prepare an Action Plan which outlines what must be done to meet the objectives in future. This area could be just one or two streets, or it could be much bigger.

In Breckland, we have two continuous monitoring stations: one at East Wretham, which is equipped to monitor fine particles (PM₁₀) oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and one in Swaffham that monitors oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The stations measure 15 minute averages so we can see the daily fluctuations in pollutant concentrations.

View Breckland District Council's monitoring data on the AQE website (opens new window).

We currently have a district wide nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) network of over 30 NO₂ diffusion tubes. Diffusion tubes measure monthly average pollutant concentrations and allow the annual average to be measured.

The figures from the continuous monitors and the diffusion tubes are used in the reports made to DEFRA.

Information on our AQMA can be found on theDEFRA website (opens new window).

What is idling?

• Idling is the act of leaving a vehicle's engine running while it is stationary.
• Aside from stopping in light traffic, idling is often not necessary and should be avoided.

Why is idling bad?

• An idling engine increases the amount of exhaust fumes in the air.
• Exhaust emissions contain a range of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter.
• These pollutants negatively affect the surrounding environment and the air we breathe.

What can you do?

• Switch off your vehicle's engine if you could be waiting for more than a minute.
  • Modern cars use virtually no extra fuel when they're re-started (without pressing the accelerator).
• Turn off your engine when stationary, such as when outside a school, shop, at a taxi rank, while unloading / loading, or while parked outside your house.

What are the benefits?

• Less pollution.
• Helps reduce instances of asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer.
• Saves you money both on fuel and engine maintenance.