02 May 2012
Jersey has good air quality according to a recently published report.
The States of Jersey Health Protection Service monitors air quality on the Island to assess risks to health and to comply with international conventions on the environment.
The analysis of the data in the Air Quality Report shows that Jersey has good air quality and that the pollutants are within the accepted international safety limits. There are some times of day when pollutants rise in level, but these do not give rise to health or environmental risks as even these levels are low.
Jersey does not need to monitor for a range of possible pollutants as, unlike many more industrialised countries, there are no domestic or industrial sources for these pollutants. Health Protection carries out checks on existing businesses when changing their processes and on planning applications to ensure that new developments do not impact on our good air quality.
If there is likely to be a problem, this may include enhanced monitoring.
There are a number of fixed monitoring sites and the data from these is reviewed annually in order that we can monitor the local trend in air quality.
Val Cameron, Head of Health Protection Services, said "The air quality in Jersey is generally very good, although we need to monitor it to ensure that it is maintained and improved.
"Areas subject to manmade air pollution are monitored and levels have been found to be both low and generally improving, however, we need to be vigilant that new processes do not change this position. There are also natural air pollutants, such as air borne sea salt, which cannot be controlled and radon gas in buildings. We are waiting for the results of the recent radon survey and we will be providing advice to the public on that in due course once that information is available.
"Annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide at all 13 monitoring sites were within the EC Directive limit value. There was a slight rise in level from last year but overall the levels are comparable with previous years and do not show an upward trend. Levels rise during the day at the 'rush hours' and the States of Jersey through its Air Quality Strategy is looking at ways of reducing these peaks, but even the peaks are still well within the recognised international 1 hour limits.
"There are 6 sites monitoring hydrocarbons, which are essentially unburnt petrol fumes or paint spraying solvents. All of these are well within safety limits and, except for some sites with already very low levels, are all showing declining levels and that the air quality is improving."
gov.je