The Air Quality Limit Values Regulations 2003

Regulations 4(1), 10(2), (3), 11(1), (3), 16(7), (12), (13)

SCHEDULE 1LIMIT VALUES, MARGINS OF TOLERANCE, INFORMATION ANDALERT THRESHOLDS

PART ISulphur Dioxide

Limit values for sulphur dioxide

1.1  

Alert threshold for sulphur dioxide

1.2  500 µg/m³ measured over three consecutive hours at locations representative of air quality over at least 100 km² or an entire zone, whichever is the smaller.

Minimum details to be made available to the public when the alert threshold for sulphur dioxide is exceeded

1.3  Details to be made available to the public should include at least:

• the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;

• any forecasts of:

  • changes in concentration (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes,

  • the geographical area concerned, and

  • the duration of the occurrence;

• the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence;

• the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.

PART IINitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NO_x)

Limit values for nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen

1.1  

Alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide

1.2  400 µg/m³ measured over three consecutive hours at locations representative of air quality over at least 100 km² or an entire zone or agglomeration, whichever is the smaller.

Minimum details to be made available to the public when the alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide is exceeded

1.3  Details to be made available to the public should include at least:

• the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;

• any forecasts of:

  • changes in concentration (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes,

  • the geographical area concerned, and

  • the duration of the occurrence;

• the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence;

• the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.

PART IIIParticulate Matter (PM₁₀)

PART IVLead

PART VBenzene

PART VICarbon Monoxide

PART VIIOzone

Information and alert thresholds for ozone

1.1  

Minimum details to be supplied to the public when the information or alert threshold is exceeded or exceedance is predicted

1.2  Details to be supplied to the public on a sufficiently large scale as soon as possible should include—

1.  Information on any observed exceedance:

(a)the location or area of the exceedance;

(b)the type of threshold exceeded (information threshold or alert threshold);

(c)the time at which the exceedance began and its duration; and

(d)the highest 1-hour and 8-hour mean concentration.

2.  Forecast for the following afternoon, day or days—

(a)the geographical area of expected exceedances of an information threshold or alert threshold;

(b)the expected change in pollution, that is, improvement, stabilisation or deterioration.

3.  Information on the type of population concerned, possible health effects and recommended conduct—

(a)information on population groups at risk;

(b)description of likely symptoms;

(c)recommended precautions to be taken by the population concerned; and

(d)where to find further information.

4.  Information provided under this Schedule shall also include—

(a)information on preventive action to reduce pollution or exposure to it;

(b)an indication of main source sectors; and

(c)recommendations for action to reduce emissions.