About air quality

Air pollution results from the introduction of a range of substances into the atmosphere from a wide variety of sources. It can cause both short term and long term effects on health, but also on the wider environment.

 

Air pollution in Oxfordshire has declined significantly over recent years.

 

We have seen some areas of improvement thanks to the introduction of stronger legislation on the sources of pollution within industry, heating and transport.  However, despite the improvements made, air pollution is still recognised as a risk to health, and many people are concerned about pollution in the air that they breathe.

 

Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, with between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths a year being attributed to long-term exposure.

 

Listen to Professor Timothy Hinks from Oxford Airways Service talk about What is Air Pollution? (on YouTube) by clicking on the image below.

 

 

Legislation and policies aiming to reduce and track the impact of air pollution have been introduced in the UK. More information on this can be found on the Legislation page.

 

More specialist information on pollutants and their impacts on habitats and species, can be found on UK Air Pollution Information System (APIS).

 

Use the menu on the right, to find out more about air quality.