Nitrogen oxides, air pollution and health – a briefing note

Low levels of nitrogen dioxide are found naturally in the air we breathe.

Higher levels of nitrogen dioxide are found as a result of air pollution. The two largest sources of nitrogen dioxide pollution are power stations which burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas and traffic. In the Rugby area the largest source of nitrogen dioxide pollution is traffic.

The government believes that we should eliminate conditions leading to average annual exposure to nitrogen dioxide which exceeds 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Local government is responsible for monitoring air quality and taking action to secure improvements.

A handy government leaflet on nitrogen dioxide pollution can be found at http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/aqeg/nd-summary.pdf . (This leaflet was produced in 2004).

Rugby Borough Council produces annual air quality monitoring reports. The latest air quality monitoring report can be found here: https://www.rugby.gov.uk/downloads/file/743/air_quality_updating_and_screening_assessmentair_quality_action_plan_progress_report_2015 . The 2015 report (which reports on air quality measurements in 2014) states "The highest NO2 concentration, 46.4 μg/m3, was monitored at site S24 (The Dun Cow, Dunchurch Square), which is almost identical to the value monitored at this site in 2013 (46.6 μg/m3)" (see page 27 of the report).

The government's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants published an updated assessment of the impact of nitrogen dioxide on health in March this year. Air polluted with nitrogen dioxide is associated with poor lung function including asthma and the committee said "Evidence associating nitrogen dioxide with health effects has strengthened substantially in recent years" (see page 1 of the report). You can read the full report here https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/411756/COMEAP_The_evidence_for_the_effects_of_nitrogen_dioxide.pdf .

London has some of the worst air quality in the United Kingdom (worse than Dunchurch) and Kings College, London estimate that over five thousand people die in London every year as a result of nitrogen dioxide pollution - see https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/HIAinLondon_KingsReport_14072015_final_0.pdf .