Environmental protection

Air quality

Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards

The Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) was set up in 1991 to provide independent advice on air quality issues, in particular the levels of pollution at which no or minimal health effects are likely to occur.

Latest

3rd June 2009: Publication of EPAQS reports:

EPAQS has produced guidelines for levels of hydrogen iodide and hydrogen fluoride in ambient air, for levels of arsenic, beryllium, chromium and nickel in ambient air. The guidelines will be used by organisations, such as the Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency when considering emissions from specific point sources which fall under their regulatory remit.

About the Panel

Following an independent review, the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) is to be merged with the Department of Health’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP).

A small number of EPAQS members will transfer to become full members of COMEAP. They will also form the core of a separate panel, available to provide independent scientific advice on air quality standards.  The enlarged body will retain the COMEAP name, structure and work programme.

Sponsorship of COMEAP will remain with the Department of Health, with day-to-day support from the Health Protection Agency.  Defra, the Devolved Administration and the Department of Health believe the merger of the two expert groups is the most efficient and sustainable way for the UK government to maintain access to independent advice on air quality standards.

Further details can be found in the Review of the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (PDF 324 KB)

About the Panel

Members of the Panel are primarily drawn from those eminent in the fields of health research, practice and teaching. The Panel's recommendations were adopted as the benchmark standards in the National Air Quality Strategy.

Publications

EPAQS is due to publish its final reports on the Addendum to guidelines for halogen and hydrogen halides in ambient air for protecting human health against acute irritancy effects and the Guidelines for metals and metalloids in ambient air for the protection of human health, post-consultation.

If you wish to view final reports from 2002 and earlier please visit the National Archives website (link below) where you'll find panel reports on:

  • guidelines for halogens and hydrogen halides
  • 1,3-Butadiene (second report)
  • airborne particles
  • polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • lead, nitrogen dioxide
  • particles
  • sulphur dioxide
  • carbon monoxide
  • ozone
  • and benzene.

View earlier reports on the National Archives.

Contact

EPAQS Secretariat
Defra
Area 3C Ergon House
17 Smith Square
London, SW1P 3JR

Tel: 08459 33 55 77
Fax: 020 7238 2188
Email: air.quality@defra.gsi.gov.uk

All correspondence for EPAQS should be sent to the Secretariat. Members cannot guarantee a reply on EPAQS business to any communication sent directly to them.

Further information

See also

Issued jointly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive, The National Assembly for Wales, and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

Page last modified: 3 June 2009
Page first published: 30 March 2007

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs