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Air Quality
Air quality is monitored across Highland in accordance with the UK National Air Quality Strategy which sets out the government's objectives to improve and protect air quality in the UK.
Local Air Quality Management
Local Authorities are required to undertake annual air quality reviews of their areas to ensure that the national air quality objectives will be achieved. The pollutants that require to be assessed by the local authority are:
- Benzene
- Carbon monoxide
- 1,3-butadiene
- lead
- nitrogen dioxide
- sulphur dioxide
- fine particles
If the objective for a pollutant is exceeded or predicted to be exceeded by the required date for compliance, the local authority must declare the affected area an Air Quality Management Area. The authority must then draw up and implement an Action Plan to reduce pollution levels in the specified area.
Highland at present does not have any Air Quality Management Areas as the pollutant levels are below the national objective values.
The most recent annual local air quality reports are in the document section opposite.