Air Quality Monitoring in Hammersmith & Fulham
Despite considerable improvements in air quality since the 1950s, air pollution continues to have a detrimental impact on human health.
As with any urban environment, the major source of airborne pollutants in Hammersmith & Fulham is exhaust emissions from road traffic. For a number of years, two such pollutants (Nitrogen dioxide and Benzene) have been monitored at a number of sites around the borough. This monitoring provides average concentrations over a period of several weeks and is useful in establishing general trends for air quality in the borough for these particular pollutants. The Council also measures pollutants called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) – a large group of organic compounds associated with emissions from motor vehicles.
The Council has designated the borough as an Air Quality Management Area. This followed the completion of a review and assessment of air pollution in Hammersmith and Fulham as part of our responsibilities under the National Air Quality Strategy, which was introduced by central government in 1997 and revised in Jan 2000. The final review and assessment report conducted prior the AQMA being designated is available as a technical report or as a non-technical summary. See links below.
In addition to the monitoring mentioned above, in 1998 an air quality monitoring station was installed at Hammersmith Broadway to monitor air quality in this area.
The major source of air pollution in Hammersmith and Fulham is exhaust emissions from road traffic. The Council is looking at ways to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. Everybody should think about the way they travel around. Those residents that are car users can help improve the quality of the air in the borough by following a few simple guidelines.
