Our air quality is monitored by a national network of monitoring sites, which continuously captures ambient air quality levels for selected pollutants throughout the UK.  This monitoring helps to assess the risks to people’s health and to the environment.

Statistics can be derived for the average concentrations of pollutants

Air quality statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2011 – Final: Statistical release

These statistics include concentrations of particulates (PM₁₀) and Ozone (O₃), which are the two pollutants thought to have the greatest health impacts.

 Annual levels of PM₁₀ and Ozonein the UK, 1987 to 2011 (final)

Notes:

The ozone index shows the annual mean of the daily maximum 8 hour running mean. The PM₁₀ index shows the annual average. 

• Urban background particulate pollution has shown long-term improvement but changed little recently: concentrations declined from a peak of 35 micrograms per cubic metre (µg m^-3) in 1992 to 20 µg m^-3 in 2011.  They changed little in the past four years and were 20 µg  m^-3 in 2010.
• Roadside particulate pollution has shown long-term improvement but changed little recently: concentrations declined from a peak of 39 µg m^-3  in 1997 to 22 µg m^-3 in 2011.  They changed little in the past four years and were 22 µgm^-3 in 2010. 
• Urban background ozone pollution has shown a long-term increase: concentrations increased from a low of 38 µg m^-3 in 1987 to 58 µg m^-3 in 2011 and increased from 53 µg m^-3 in 2010 after declining from a peak of 61 µg m^-3 in 2006. 
• Rural background ozone pollution has shown no clear long-term trend and changed little recently: concentrations increased from a low of 58 µg m^-3 in 1987 to 68 µg m^-3 in 2011, but changed little in the past five years, fluctuating between 67 and 70  µg m^-3 after declining from a peak of 74 µg m^-3 in 2006.

Data download

The key facts publication contains a downloadable version of this page
Next scheduled update April 2013
Air quality monitoring networks and methodology
Government policy on air quality
Air quality in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Europe
Additional information on particulates, ozone  and other pollutants.

Downloads

2 February 2012

• Air quality statistics in the UK 1987 to 2011 – Provisional (pdf, 366 KB)