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Air Quality

AIR QUALITY

The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were first published in 1997 establishes a strong framework for tackling air pollution. Its foundations are based upon strong scientific evidence of the effects of air pollutants on heath and the environment. The strategy sets objectives for a series of pollutants to be met in all UK countries.

Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) provides the framework within which air quality is managed by the District Councils in Northern Ireland. LAQM requires the District Councils to review and assess a range of air pollution against modelling objectives set out within the Air Quality Strategy using a range of monitoring, modelling, observations and corresponding analysis. Where objectives are not expected to be met by the relevant target date District Councils are required to:

Ø Declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), and

Ø Development an Action Plan to address the problem

To date the following reviews of local air quality has been undertaken which do not require Omagh District Council to declare any AGMA for the pollutants of interest:

Ø Air Quality Review & Assessment Stage 1

Ø Air quality Review & Assessment Stage 2/3

Ø Progress Report 2005

Ø Updating and Screening Assessment 2006

Ø Progress Report 2007

Please open the following documents for further information

Useful Contacts

Nationally

Ø UK Air Quality Archive - www.airquality.co.uk

Ø National Atmosphere Emissions Inventory - www.naei.org.uk

Ø Defra Air Quality - www.defra.gov.uk

Ø Environmental Protection UK - www.environmental-protection.org.uk

Locally

Ø Northern Ireland Air Quality - www.airqualityni.co.uk

Ø DOENI - www.doeni.gov.uk

Ø Emissions and Heritage Service - www.ehsni.gov.uk

RADIATION

We are represented on the Northern Ireland Radiation Monitoring Group. Its function is to provide quality assured independent information on radiation matters at a local level. As part of this, a comprehensive monitoring and sampling programme for radiation has been set up.

Monitoring Programme

Initially background levels of gamma radioactivity from the ground were measured throughout Northern Ireland on a 10km grid basis using portable radiation meters called mini 6-80 instruments. Presently selected sites, one in each council area are monitored quarterly on a rolling programme. These background levels enable changes to be detected more easily in the event of any future radiation incidents and enable a database to be built up of background radiation levels.

Permanent automated radiation monitoring stations (Argus systems) are sited at five locations throughout Northern Ireland - Omagh, Portavogie, Belfast, Kilkeel and Coleraine.

These monitors are designed to continuously check levels of gamma radiation and trigger an alarm if unusually high levels are detected. In the event of any radiation incident affecting the United Kingdom action will be taken by the government under a National Response Plan.

Radiation and meteorological data can be found at the following web address: www.weatherprobe.com

Sampling programme

A sampling programme of foodstuffs and environmental materials has been ongoing since 1984. Samples include silt, fish, shellfish, seaweed, heather honey, meat, grass and water.

These samples have been routinely submitted for radioactivity and although they show some contamination, are well within accepted guidelines issued by the Health Protection Agency (formerly National Radiological Protection Board) and are much less than radiation levels from natural sources such as radon.

Results of monitoring are reported on a regular basis and can be found at the following website - www.nirmg.org.uk

Radon

What is radon?

Radon is a natural radioactive gas, which has no taste, smell or colour. It comes from the radioactive decay of radium, which, in turn, comes from the radioactive decay of uranium. Special equipment is needed to detect it. The level of radioactivity in the air due to the presence of radon, is measured in units of Becquerel per cubic metre (Bq/m3).

How can radon affect me?

Radon in the soil and rocks mixes with air and rises to the surface where it is quickly diluted in the atmosphere. In some circumstances, when it enters enclosed spaces such as houses, it can reach high levels of concentration. As the radon decays, it forms minute particles of a radioactive substance which are called Radon daughters which, when inhaled, can be deposited in the lungs. The radiation emitted by these particles as they decay can give high doses to lung tissue and may damage them. This product increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

Sampling for radon

A report 'Radon in Dwellings' was published in 1999 by the Department of the Environment (DoE) and the then National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). This report gives details of the results of radon measurements in homes in Northern Ireland up until early 1999. The majority of the measurements were commissioned by the Environment and Heritage Service of the DoE, with small numbers undertaken for other organisations and individual householders. Over 15000 results have been obtained. From the results of these measurements the then NRPB was able to identify areas where some homes may have higher than normal radon levels.

How do I know if my home has high radon levels?

If you have not been invited to have a free radon test and you are concerned about radon you should initially contact the Environment and Heritage Service or the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency. A test may be carried out free of charge but if you live in a lower risk area the cost of the test will be about £35. If measurements are to be made, you will be sent two small detectors: one for the living room, one for the bedroom. The detectors contain special plastic to measure radon and are harmless. After three months they should be returned for processing and you will then be written to telling you the radon level in your home. In some cases measurements for a further three months may be suggested to get a more accurate estimate of the average radon level in your home. Radon measurements taken over a period shorter than three months can be seriously misleading.

What to do if your home has a high level of radon

The recommended action level for radon in existing homes, above which action is recommended to reduce it, is 200 Bq/m3 average radon concentration over a full year. Advice on how to reduce the risk of radon gas entering your home can be obtained from Environmental Health, or Building Control.

For further information contact

The Environmental Health Department

Environmental Health Department, Omagh District Council, Lisnamallard House, Old Mountfield Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, BT79 7EG