Better Air Quality Through Monitoring
Air Quality Monitoring FAQ
What is air quality monitoring?
Air quality monitoring refers to the collection and measurement of ambient air pollution samples. The data from these samples is compared to clean air standards and historical information regarding air quality levels, along with data reflecting its health and environmental impacts, to determine the state of the air.
How does the Environment Agency monitor air quality?
The Environment Agency manage the UK's national monitoring sites on behalf of Defra and the Devolved Administrations. There are around 300 Environment Agency managed monitoring sites in total across the UK which monitor air quality and these are organised into networks that gather a particular kind of information, using a particular method.
Why do we need a local air quality monitoring network?
According to the EPA, two-thirds of counties (2,120 of 3,142) in the United States had no ambient air quality monitoring infrastructure associated with the national monitoring system in 2019. This is why it is important to establish local monitoring networks to fill in the gaps left behind by existing monitors.
How does California monitor air pollution?
State-level networks monitor air pollution at the state level. In California, the state-wide ambient air quality monitoring network has more than 250 monitoring stations placed across the state. According to the objectives listed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), California’s air quality monitoring system seeks to:
How many air quality monitoring sites are there in the UK?
1. Monitoring data There are over 1500 sites across the UK that monitor air quality. They are organised into networks that gather a particular kind of information, using a particular method. There are two major types - automatic and non-automatic networks. The Monitoring Networks section provides further network information.
Where can I find information about air quality in the UK?
The statistics in this publication are based on data from the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) of air quality monitors. The UK-AIR website contains the latest air quality monitoring data for the UK and detailed information about the different monintoring networks that measure air quality.
Do local authorities monitor and assess air quality?
Local authorities are required to monitor and assess the quality of the air in their district. Local authorities publish their monitoring and assessment annually, and update on the measures they have taken since the last Annual Status Report.
Where can I find air pollution monitoring in London?
A wider monitoring network is available in London, so if you live or work in London, see below for more specific information. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), have a UK air pollution forecast map where you can see the latest air pollution levels for your area on a map.
Air Quality Monitoring References
If you want to know more about Air Quality Monitoring, consider exploring links below:
What Is Air Quality Monitoring
- https://www.clarity.io/blog/what-is-air-quality-monitoring-why-is-it-important
- https://www.cleanairhub.org.uk/forecasts
- https://www.makeuseof.com/air-quality-monitors-explained/
- https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-air-quality-measured
- https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/network-info?view%3Daurn
- https://www.airqualityengland.co.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/air-quality--3
- https://www.iqair.com/gb/uk
- https://www.who.int/news/item/10-10-2023-monitoring-air-pollution-levels-is-key-to-adopting-and-implementing-who-s-global-air-quality-guidelines
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