Air Quality

Air is the mixture of gases all around us that we breathe. Good air quality is essential for our health, quality of life and the environment. Air is said to be 'polluted', or of poor air quality, when it contains substances which can have a harmful effect on our health or the environment. Many of our every day activities contribute to air pollution, including using electricity, heating our homes or driving a car.

The quality of the air is something that affects us all. Many of us do not realise the considerable physical effects poor air quality can have on us. Since the industrial revolution the air quality in the UK has significantly declined.

Click on the photo at the top right-hand side to view the difference in air quality in Dundee from the late fifties to 2005.

It is increasingly recognised that traffic, as well as industry, has significant impacts on air quality.

In order to identify where air pollution may be a problem and to comply with the requirements of the Air Quality (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002, Dundee City Council have produced a Local Authority Air Quality Updating and Screening Assessment (1.9MB PDF)

A non-technical summary of the Updating and Screening Assessment is also available.

For more information on the Government guidance to Local Authorities on Air Quality go to DEFRA website

Non-technical Summary of the Updating and Screening Assessment for Air Quality in Dundee

Dundee City Council (DCC) is required to submit an updating and screening assessment to the Scottish Government every 3 years. The latest report was submitted in May 2003. This report gives the findings of the assessment of air quality in Dundee to date.

Dundee City Council is required to look at levels of carbon monoxide, benzene, 1-3 butadiene, lead, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and PM 10.

For many areas of Dundee the air quality is satisfactory. There are no areas of the City where carbon monoxide, 1-3 butadiene or lead are a problem. It is unlikely that there will be a problem with the levels of benzene in Dundee but further investigation is ongoing at the moment to make sure that the levels are well below the Air Quality Standard.

However, there are some areas where air quality is not as good, and further air quality monitoring is taking place. The pollutants of concern are sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and PM 10.Traffic has been identified as a major contributor of air pollution in Dundee. Where air pollution has been found to be high, for example, where there are high levels of traffic in narrow streets, real-time air pollution monitoring has been set up. This monitoring will establish whether the National Air Quality Standards will be achieved in the City.

If the National Air Quality Standards are not achieved or are not likely to be achieved in the future, DCC will have to declare Air Quality Management Areas.

For most people the air quality in Dundee is unlikely to cause any health effects. However, in episodes of poor air quality, some people may suffer from eye irritation or coughing. Some individuals will be more susceptible to the effects of air pollution and will be more likely to be affected by poor air quality, or will be affected at lower pollution levels than other people.

Young children are particularly susceptible as toxins are quickly absorbed into their bodies. The elderly and those with existing respiratory illness are more likely to be affected by air pollution. Asthma and bronchitis sufferers are particularly sensitive to poor air pollution episodes, asthma attacks may be triggered by elevated pollution levels.

People exercising next to busy roads are also vulnerable to the pollution created by the road, for example, people jogging or cycling alongside a road. Exercise increases the amount of air inhaled, meaning pollution may enter deeper into the lungs of people exercising. It may be appropriate to limit such exercise when air pollution is known to be high.

Pollution Control Section
1 Highland Chief Way, Claverhouse West Industrial Park
Dundee, DD4 9UA
Tel: 01382 436260
Fax: 01382 436226

« Pollution Control

This information is provided by the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department