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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when (a) 1,3-butadienes, (b) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, (c) cadmium, (d) arsenic, (e) nickel and (f) mercury will be added to the pollutants monitored under the National Air Quality Strategy for the United Kingdom. [64663] Mr. Meacher: [holding answer 27 June 2002]: Of these pollutants: (a) 1,3 butadiene is already one of the eight pollutants covered by the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, published in January 2000 ("the Strategy"); (b) we consulted in September 2001 on the possibility of adding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to the list of pollutants covered by the Strategy, and hope to make an announcement on this shortly. Levels of PAH in the UK are currently measured at 21 sites, and we hope to add a further 4 sites to the network as soon as possible; (c) we have no immediate plans to add cadmium, arsenic, nickel and mercury to the list of pollutants covered by the Strategy. Our monitoring shows that levels of these pollutants in ambient air in the UK are not generally a cause for concern, and the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) estimates that emissions of each have fallen significantly in recent years. Between 1990 and 1999, for example, estimated emissions of cadmium, arsenic, nickel and mercury fell by 71 per cent. 69 per cent., 47 per cent., and 65 per cent. respectively. We understand that the planned Fourth European Union Air Quality Daughter Directive may include proposals in respect of PAH, cadmium, arsenic, nickel and mercury. We intend to keep under review the need for separate national measures on these pollutants in the light of progress with negotiations on the Directive.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

388 c55W;388 c53-5W; 64663

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Air pollution Monitoring Standards Mercury Nickel Cadmium Pollutants Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Butadiene Arsenic

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk