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Air Quality

Toxic air pollutants and their impact

Air pollutants are not only harmful to the natural environment but have massive implications on local areas and their communities. The main cost of air pollution arises from the adverse health effects that are suffered by people. The 2007 Air Quality Strategy estimates that the health impact of man-made particulate air pollution experienced in the UK in 2005 cost between £8.5 billion and £20.2 billion a year. Across Merseyside, the cost of poor air quality is estimated at £18-26million per year.

In the UK, traffic is the major air polluter in urban areas, with traffic fumes accounting for just over half of the total domestic nitrogen emissions. Petrol and diesel-engine motor vehicles emit a wide variety of pollutants, mainly carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates (PM₁₀), which have an increasing impact on urban air quality and peoples health as demonstrated below.

Merseyside Atmospheric Emissions Inventory

The Partnership has developed an air quality model and emissions inventory to support our activities and provide effective monitoring of air quality across Merseyside. The inventory and model allows for air quality progress to be assessed and for solutions that address the air quality issues the region is facing to be developed and tested.

Air Quality Management Areas

At the start of the LTP in 2006 there were two Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) declarations in Liverpool; one in the city centre and the other at the Rocket Junction at the end of the M62 motorway. Air quality has steadily worsened in several other locations in the city of Liverpool, Sefton and St Helens during the last two years.

Given the number and distribution of these locations

• Liverpool City Council have since declared the whole city an AQMA. A new air quality action plan will be produced in response to the new declaration.
• Sefton Council have declared three small AQMAs, all of which are related to transport generated emissions. They are firstly the junction of Millers Bridge & Derby Road in Bootle, secondly Princess Way between the roundabout at the junction with Crosby Road South & the Ewart Road flyover and thirdly Crosby Road North between the junction with South Road & the junction with College Road.  Appropriate mitigation measures will be identified through their action plans.
• St Helens Council have declared two AQMAs, both of which are transport derived. The first encompasses a strip either side of the M6 Motorway within the boundary of and the second encompassess part of the A49 in Newton-le-Willows and extends between the junctions with Ashton Road and Church Street.

How we are improving air quality

Below are links to what work each district council is doing on improving air quality;

• Knowsley
• Liverpool
• Sefton
• St Helens
• Wirral

Also visit our Low Emission Strategies section to find out about actions the Merseyside Transport Partnership is taking to reduce emissions from transport.