You can access real time air quality information via this website. Just click on the link below:
PM10 is a term used to describe fine particulates (dust) that is less than 10 micrometres in diameter.
Both natural sources (for example; pollen, forest fires, soil and sea spray) and man-made sources (for example; vehicle exhausts, industrial emissions, demolition/construction and quarrying) can contribute to PM10. Different fractions of PM10 are known as coarse (eg wind-blown dust), primary (eg smoke) and secondary (resulting from chemical transformations in the atmosphere).
Visit the NAEI website for information on the national emissions of PM10. You can discover more about industrial emissions on the Environment Agency's pollution inventory.
PM10 is of concern because it can be respired deep into the lungs and is associated with a range of effects on health such as impaired lung function, exacerbation of asthma and cardiovascular diseases.
National Air Quality Objectives have been set for PM10 for both an annual average and a 24-hour average to protect vulnerable groups.
For more information about PM10 visit the Enviropedia website.
The council monitors PM10 in "real-time" at two locations using TEOM (tapered element oscillating microbalance) monitors. Check out local PM10 over the last month
As can be seen from the graph below levels within the borough are currently well below the annual Objective.
Annual Averages
