Pollution Monitoring

 

The Domestic and Industrial Team operates a monitoring programme for atmospheric pollutants, to assess the air quality of the district in accordance with the air quality objectives set out in the Government’s National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS).  The pollutant species of most concern to the section, in relation to the air quality objectives, is nitrogen dioxide and this is currently monitored at various sites across the district.
 
Monitoring is undertaken via the use of a network of diffusion tubes in the areas of the district of most concern, which give an average reading of the level of nitrogen dioxide in the area that the tube is situated.

 

The Clean Air Act 1993 contains controls on the emission of dark smoke, the emission of smoke, grit and dust from furnaces, the height of chimneys and the creation of smoke control areas.

Dark smoke is defined by comparison with a special chart (Ringelmann Chart) and this provision is used most frequently to prevent the uncontrolled burning of inappropriate materials such as tyres, roofing felt etc on industrial or trade premises.

The provisions relating to furnaces are intended to ensure that they are, as far as is practicable, smokeless and that suitable arrestment plant is installed to control emissions of grit and dust.

The controls relating to chimney heights state that it is an offence to knowingly cause or permit a furnace to be used to:

Burn pulverised fuel;
Burn, at a rate of 45.4 kilograms or more an hour, any other solid matter; or
Burn, at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kilowatts or more, any liquid or gaseous matter;

Unless the height of the chimney has been approved by the District Council and any conditions attached to the approval have been complied with.

An application for chimney height approval must contain sufficient information to enable the necessary calculations to be carried out. On receipt of a completed application the District Council must provide a written decision within 28 days, unless a longer time scale is agreed in writing. If this time scale is not met then the application is considered to be granted.

Local authorities may, by Order, declare all or part of their areas to be smoke control areas. The effect of declaring a smoke control area would be to make all emissions of smoke from chimneys within that area an offence. This provision has been used most frequently in densely built-up areas where levels of smoke have been excessive.

PM10 describes the fraction of airborne particulate matter that is less than 10 microns in size. Fine particles are of the greatest concern since they are capable of being easily transported over long distances on currents of air. Also, fine particles may be drawn into the respiratory airways where they may adversely affect health. Recently, the attention of scientists has been drawn towards studying the PM2.5 fraction and even smaller particles, which can penetrate the very deepest parts of the lung.

PM10 and other particulate matter may vary considerably in chemical and physical composition. The principal sources of these particles are combustion processes, including traffic and industry.

PM10 describes the fraction of airborne particulate matter that is less than 10 microns in size. Fine particles are of the greatest concern since they are capable of being easily transported over long distances on currents of air. Also, fine particles may be drawn into the respiratory airways where they may adversely affect health. Recently, the attention of scientists has been drawn towards studying the PM2.5 fraction and even smaller particles, which can penetrate the very deepest parts of the lung.

PM10 and other particulate matter may vary considerably in chemical and physical composition. The principal sources of these particles are combustion processes, including traffic and industry.

Nitrogen dioxide is one of a number of nitrogen oxides, which are formed during high temperature combustion processes. Road traffic is the main source, accounting for approximately 50% of all European emissions. Therefore, concentrations tend to be highest in urban environments with high traffic levels. Large industrial sources can also have a significant impact.

Nitrogen dioxide is a respiratory irritant and also plays a part in the production of another atmospheric pollutant, Ozone. Nitrogen oxides remain in the atmosphere for approximately one day before they are oxidized to nitric acid. Nitrogen oxides are therefore a contributory factor in the production of acid rain.

 

Nitrogen dioxide is one of a number of nitrogen oxides, which are formed during high temperature combustion processes. Road traffic is the main source, accounting for approximately 50% of all European emissions. Therefore, concentrations tend to be highest in urban environments with high traffic levels. Large industrial sources can also have a significant impact.

Nitrogen dioxide is a respiratory irritant and also plays a part in the production of another atmospheric pollutant, Ozone. Nitrogen oxides remain in the atmosphere for approximately one day before they are oxidized to nitric acid. Nitrogen oxides are therefore a contributory factor in the production of acid rain.

 

Sulphur dioxide is a colourless gas, about 2.5 times as heavy as air, with a suffocating smell and a faint sweetish odour.

 

It occurs in volcanic gases causing traces of sulphur dioxide to be present in the atmosphere. Another source of sulphur dioxide is the combustion of the iron pyrites which are contained in coal. Sulphur dioxide also results from various metallurgical and chemical processes.

 

Health effects caused by high exposure to the gas include breathing problems, respiratory illness, changes in the lung's defences, and worsening respiratory and cardiovascular disease. People with asthma, chronic lung disease or heart disease are the most sensitive to the gas. It also damages crops and trees and is one of the main causes of acid rain and contributes to climate change. 
 
The Pollution Control department at NEDDC monitors the Sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere. 

 

To view the current and forecasted air quality for the East Midlands, please visit the Air Quality Archive

 

The Environmental Health Section are responsible for the identification and investigation of contaminated land.

We identify contaminated sites within the District and take action to bring about their remediation. We provide advice and information to solicitors, developers and members of the public on potentially polluted sites and investigate complaints about land pollution.

 

Most of the waste we produce is sent to a landfill site. About 100 million tonnes of waste is landfilled each year. In the past it was an easy method to use for waste disposal because it was cheap and space was often available in old quarries. Space approved for landfill is set to run out in the next five to ten years.

One tonne of biodegradable waste produces between 200 and 400 cubic metres of landfill gas. Landfill site design and management must be improved to prevent pollution from organic acids, ammonia and other hazardous substances.

The Landfill Directive sets targets for existing sites to:

 

For further information please contact Derbyshire County Council or visit the Environment  Agency website.

 

Landfill tax is paid on top of normal landfill fees by businesses and local authorities that want to dispose of waste using a landfill site. It is designed to encourage businesses to produce less waste and to use alternative forms of waste management.

 

For more information on landfill tax please visit the businesslink website.

 

 

For more information please take a look at the DEFRA website, in particular their section on Air Quality and Land Contamination.