UK FOCUS ix


New start, old problems: Two-fifths of British schools report above average NO2


bad air, deprived areas suffer the most A new academic year has started


with fresh hopes but some lingering problems persist. Chiefly, high air pollution levels around schools. Cleantech platform Airly conducted a study based on available air pollution monitoring sources which shows NO2


levels were greater than WHO acceptable levels around 41% of UK schools.


What is NO2 or nitrogen dioxide? It


is a pollutant gas which increases the risk of asthma and exacerbates the symptoms of asthma in children, reduces lung function and increases the likelihood of inflammation of the airways. The main sources of NO2


road traffic (fuel combustion) and heavy industry.


During pandemic-related lockdowns, air quality around schools improved but over the last 12 months, it has returned to the excessive ‘normal’. The charts below illustrate the problem by timeline. Notably, NO2


levels around


schools in London have the highest levels across the UK.


41% of British schools exceeded the acceptable levels of NO2


in 2021. This


is an improvement from 2019 when 49% of schools across the country had exceeded the norms. The significant drop in NO2


levels during the


lockdown in spring 2020 and during the following summer vacation shows the extent to which human activity can impact NO2


levels. Pollutants such as NO2 and PM10 affect


not only health but also learning ability. Several studies from recent years prove that air pollution can harm cognitive intelligence, while other studies have proven that reducing air pollution can significantly increase the memory of young people.


Another finding from the Airly study shows that children living in the poorest parts of the UK are more exposed to higher levels of air pollution. The analysis of the mean PM10 pollution (the most common pollutant measured) around schools in the United Kingdom showed that there is a relation between the PM10 concentrations and the IMD Score of the neighbourhood. This graph presents the relationship between IMD Score and air pollution around schools, grouped in boroughs. Selected boroughs are highlighted.


These socially deprived areas have a greater presence of air pollution for a number of factors including the concentration of older cars, dense housing populations, the lack of green urban areas, part of the industrial revolution legacy and have worse aero sanitary conditions.


What can schools do to improve the situation? In order to reduce air pollution near schools, it is first and foremost necessary to know what level of pollution there is in the vicinity of the school. To measure this, it is necessary to monitor the air quality outside, to measure the air quality in the vicinity of the facility on an ongoing basis and to analyse the pollution peaks in order to effectively influence their flattening. Airly launched the #LetSchoolsBreathe campaign earlier this year, the aim of which was to provide 50 air quality sensors to schools in the UK so that they could monitor the air quality in their surroundings on an ongoing basis. After six months, each school is to receive a report analysing the concentrations of NO2


and PM at schools and suggestions on what steps to take to improve the situation.


The next step may be to reduce car traffic near the school, rearrange the paths to the school to minimize the risk of contamination for students, or also increase the amount of green space near the schools both at the front and backyard.


For More Info, email: email:


For More Info, email: 56134pr@reply-direct.com WWW.ENVIROTECH-ONLINE.COM IET SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 The STA Focus levels in 2021. London ranks top for are


I can’t believe it is time to sit down and write the STA focus column again already. This time of year is always busy for the STA team, not only do we have our 2nd general meeting of the year we also have to prepare for our AGM. The STA membership have really embraced the online meeting format with attendance up 40% from face to face meetings and the latest STA meeting was no exception, we attract representation from all sectors of our industry, regulators, stack testing organisations, process operators, equipment suppliers and consultants, all with the common goal to ensure that the work carried out in our industry is done to the highest standards. The latest meeting was held on the 20th July and covered, Health and Safety and how companies are working in line with COVID rules and regulations. Quality and Technical, this section of the meeting covered UKAS accreditation requirements, Regulation. At the meeting the STA focused on CEN/ TS 17349 (HF), a review of the index of methods on the EAs website as well as the EA’s method implementation documents, and an in-depth and detailed discussion between the industry and the regulators relating to Brominated dioxins and furans, and the QA of data accusation and handling systems standards implementation followed by an update from the EA on the EA’s Regulatory Position Statements relating to COVID-19. An overview of PT schemes that are related to our sector was also given by the scheme’s operators, other areas covered in the QT section of the meeting included feedback on the STA’s working groups for HCL, EN14181 and Low particulate, feedback from analytical laboratories and the upcoming Air Quality Exhibition and conference. The afternoon section of the meeting concentrated on the Process Operators task group and covered the following topics, BREF update and related issues, Carbon and Biogenic’s, Large Combustion Plant Directive update and feedback from operators on the EA’s Operator Monitoring Assessment (OMA). As you can see from the brief update the STA remains focused on the current topics within our sectors and with the engagement from regulators and all sectors of the industry these meetings remain a great resource for the industry.


Focus on training


The STA is committed to encourage the personal and professional development of practicing source testers and students and provide training courses on various aspects of emission monitoring. In each STA focus column we will highlight a specific training course. Regulatory Monitoring Requirements (RMR) training course The purpose of the course is to provide an understanding of the requirements of the Environment Agency’s MCERTS and Operator Monitoring Assessment schemes. This will increase process operators’ awareness of their role in managing emissions monitoring and so improve their OMA audit score.


Course Content • Background to Environmental Regulations including IPPC. • Description of the OMA scheme. • The role of MCERTS schemes in stack-emission monitoring. • Introduction to major pollutants


• The nature of emission limits, including reference conditions and units of measurement.


• An understanding of the principles of stack-emission monitoring.


• An appreciation of the importance of correct sampling location for stack emission monitoring .


• The practicalities of planning and executing stack-emissions monitoring campaigns including the importance of Risk Assessments.


• Quality checks to ensure robust monitoring data.


If you would like more information on this training course or any of the courses the STA offer visit our website www.s-t-a.org or contact one of the team


Your STA


The STA meetings and task groups are available for all STA members to attend and contribute. If you are an existing STA member and not already involved in the valuable work the STA does or if you are interested in becoming a member please email info@s-t-a.org and one of the team will contact you.


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