Policy Air Quality Standards Pollutants Impacts Monitoring Air Quality Standards Air quality is measured by comparing against a range of health-effects based standards. This page gives information about what this means. Standards Air Pollution Information Service Index or Banding Air Quality Standards and Objectives Standards for air pollution are concentrations over a given time period that are considered to be acceptable in the light of what is known about the effects of each pollutant on health and on the environment. They can also be used as a benchmark to see if air pollution is getting better or worse. An exceedence of a standard is a period of time (which is defined in each standard) where the concentration is higher than that set down by the standard. In order to make useful comparisons between pollutants, for which the standards may be expressed in terms of different averaging times, the number of days on which an exceedence has been recorded is often reported. An objective is the target date on which exceedences of a standard must not exceed a specified number. The objectives adopted in Gibraltar are based on the Public Health (Air Quality Limit Values) Rules 2002 as amended by the Public Health (Air Quality Limit Values) (Amendment) Rules 2002 and the Public Health (Air Quality) (Ozone) Rules 2004 for the purpose of Local Air Quality Management. These Air Quality Rules have adopted into Gibraltar law the Limit and Target values required by EU Daughter Directives on Air Quality. A summary of the current Gibraltar Air Quality Objectives is provided here. Summary of Objectives Pollutant Objective Measured as To be achieved by Benzene 5 µg/m3 Annual Mean 1 January 2010 Carbon monoxide 10.0 mg/m3 Maximum daily running 8 Hour Mean 1 January 2005 Lead 0.5 µg/m3 Annual Mean 1 January 2005 Nitrogen dioxide 200 µg/m3 Not to be exceeded more than 18 times per year 1 Hour Mean 1 January 2010 40 µg/m3 Annual Mean 1 January 2010 Nitrogen Oxides** (V) 30 µg/m3 Annual Mean 19 July 2001 Ozone 120 µg/m3 Running 8 hour Mean Daily maximum of running 8 hr mean not to be exceeded more than 10 times per year. 25 times per calendar year averaged over 3 years 1 January 2010 Particlesa (PM10) (gravimetric) 50 µg/m3 Not to be exceeded more than 33 times per year 24 Hour Mean 1 January 2005 40 µg/m3 Annual Mean 1 January 2005 Sulphur dioxide 350 µg/m3 Not to be exceeded more than 24 times per year 1 Hour Mean 1 January 2005 125 µg/m3 Not to be exceeded more than 3 times per year 24 Hour Mean 1 January 2005 (V) 20 µg/m3 Annual Mean 19 July 2001 (V) 20 µg/m3 Winter Mean (01 October - 31 March) 19 July 2001 Arsenic 6 ng/m3 Annual Mean 31 December 2012 Cadmium 5 ng/m3 Annual Mean 31 December 2012 Nickel 20 ng/m3 Annual Mean 31 December 2012 PAH (Benzo[a]pyrene***) 1 ng/m3 Annual Mean 31 December 2012 Notes: a. Measured using the European gravimetric transfer sampler or equivalent. µg/m3 - micrograms per cubic metre mg/m3 - milligrams per cubic metre ** Assuming NOx is taken as NO2 *** Benzo[a]pyrene is used as a marker for the carcinogenic risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air. Objectives for arsenic, cadmium, nickel and Benzo[a]pyrene are Target Values. (V) These standards are adopted for the protection of vegetation and ecosystems. All of the remainder are for the protection of human health. Air Pollution Information Service   Index and Bands Gibraltar has adopted the index and banding system approved by the UK Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollution Episodes (COMEAP). The system uses 1-10 index divided into four bands to provide more detail about air pollution levels in a simple way, similar to the sun index or pollen index. 1-3 (Low) 4-6 (Moderate) 7-9 (High) 10 (Very High) The overall air pollution index for a monitoring location is calculated from the highest concentration of the pollutants measured at that location.   Health Advice Latest studies report that: When air pollution is LOW (1-3) effects are unlikely to be noticed even by those who are sensitive to air pollution. When air pollution is MODERATE (4-6) sensitive people may notice mild effects but these are unlikely to need action. When air pollution is HIGH (7-9) sensitive people may notice significant effects and may need to take action. When air pollution is VERY HIGH (10) effects on sensitive people, described for HIGH pollution, may worsen. Air pollution can cause short-term health effects to sensitive individuals (people who suffer from heart disease or lung diseases, including asthma). Effects on sensitive people can be reduced by spending less time outdoors. 'Reliever' inhalers should lessen effects on asthma sufferers. More details on effects, including long-term, are available in a free leaflet from the UK's Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 'Air Pollution - what it means for your health'. Air Pollution Bandings and Index and the Impact on the health of People who are Sensitive to Air Pollution   Banding Index Health Descriptor Low 1, 2, or 3 Effects are unlikely to be noticed even by individuals who know they are sensitive to air pollutants Moderate 4, 5, or 6 Mild effects, unlikely to require action, may be noticed amongst sensitive individuals. High 7, 8, or 9 Significant effects may be noticed by sensitive individuals and action to avoid or reduce these effects may be needed (e.g. reducing exposure by spending less time in polluted areas outdoors). Asthmatics will find that their 'reliever' inhaler is likely to reverse the effects on the lung. Very High  10  The effects on sensitive individuals described for 'High' levels of pollution may worsen.   Boundaries Between Index Points for Each Pollutant Band Index Ozone Nitrogen Dioxide Sulphur Dioxide Carbon Monoxide PM10 Particles 8 hourly or hourly mean* hourly mean 15 minute mean 8 hourly mean 24 hour mean µgm-3 ppb µgm-3 ppb µgm-3 ppb mgm-3 ppm µgm-3 Low   1 0-33 0-16 0-95 0-49 0-88 0-33 0-3.8 0.0-3.2 0-21 2 34-65 17-32 96-190 50-99 89-176 33-66 3.9-7.6 3.3-6.6 22-42 3 66-99 33-49 191-286 100-149 177-265 67-99 7.7-11.5 6.7-9.9 43-64 Moderate   4 100-125 50-62 287-381 150-199 266-354 100-132 11.6-13.4 10.0-11.5 65-74 5 126-153 63-76 382-477 200-249 355-442 133-166 13.5-15.4 11.6-13.2 75-86 6 154-179 77-89 478-572 250-299 443-531 167-199 15.5-17.3 13.3-14.9 87-96 High   7 180-239 90-119 573-635 300-332 532-708 200-266 17.4-19.2 15.0-16.5 97-107 8 240-299 120-149 636-700 333-366 709-886 267-332 19.3-21.2 16.6-18.2 108-118 9 300-359 150-179 701-763 367-399 887-1063 333-399 21.3-23.1 18.3-19.9 119-129 Very High   10 360 or more 180 or more 764 or more 400 or more 1064 or more 400 or more 23.2 or more 20 or more 130 or more * For ozone, the maximum of the 8 hourly and hourly mean is used to calculate the index value. For further information about this web site please email: info@gibraltarairquality.gi © Copyright Home | About Air Quality | Data | Links | About This Site This website is prepared and hosted by AEA Energy & Environment, on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Environmental Agency