20.12.19
Leicester City Council to pilot major air pollution study
Leicester City Council has announced (Dec 19) a major new project on local air pollution, studying locally-based fine particulate pollution (PM2.5).
It comes after the city council was awarded £250,000 from the Government, to become one of the first cities in the country to pilot the monitoring and mapping of potentially harmful PM2.5 in Leicester.
PM2.5 is the name given to tiny particles of dust, smoke, pollen and soot in the air we breathe, at less than 2.5 micrometres in size they can often go undetected.
The particles pose serious health concerns, such as an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, if exposed to PM2.5 at high levels or over an extended period.
The World Health Organisation recommends that levels should not surpass an annual average of 10micrograms per cubic metre.
Prior to this study, local levels of PM2.5 has been recorded by a single, automatic monitoring site located at the University of Leicester, with most recent recordings showing below 11micrograms per cubic metre.
Cllr Adam Clarke, deputy city mayor and executive lead on environment and transportation, said:
“We are now recording the lowest levels of nitrogen dioxide we’ve ever seen and are taking action to reduce it further.
“But more needs to be done, particularly around understanding and managing the levels of PM2.5 in the city.
“There is currently no requirement to monitor for this pollutant, but we know that we have the skills and knowledge in the city to take a lead in better understanding PM2.5 and its risk to health.
“We are determined to continue to accelerate the improvements we have seen in recent years and achieve our aim of Healthier Air for Leicester.”
Leicester-based air quality experts EarthSense is now teaming up with the council to carry out a citywide study, using 11 Zephyr air quality sensors across the city.
Six of the sensors will be located around the region, and the remaining four will be attached to electric cars and bikes to provide mobile readings.
Findings from the study are due to be published in late 2020.
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