NEWS RELEASES
Lessons in air pollution
14th February 2007
PUPILS at a school in Horsham are having special lessons about air pollution.
Horsham District Council has arranged for an air quality monitoring station to be temporarily put in place at Millais School to sample air quality around the school, particularly looking at the pollution created by local traffic.
This latest initiative is part of the work the Council is doing with schools in the District, promoting the environmental and health benefits of walking and cycling to school.
The air quality monitoring project is part of an EU initiative which covers an area of Sussex and two regions in France. These neighbouring areas are affected by the same cloud of pollution even though they are separated by the English Channel.
Explaining more about the work with pupils at Millais, Cllr Robert Nye, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Public Health Control at Horsham District Council, said:
"The types of pollutants being measured in the station at the school are Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, particulate matter (fine dust particles), hydro-carbons, Carbon Monoxide and Ozone, in addition to temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction.
"Data and graphical plots are being produced during this time to show students the influence of traffic to the air quality during school drop off and collection times.
"The Government has set limits for most of these pollutants and so monitoring data like this helps us to see whether an area is a pollution ‘hotspot’ and whether action needs to be taken so that the limits are complied with.
"The data is also a useful tool for the school to demonstrate whether vehicles doing the school drop off and pick up are causing a localised pollution problem, which can be addressed through the school travel plan."
A School Travel Plan is a live, working document that encourages a shift away from car use towards more sustainable (or environmentally friendly and healthy) methods of travel such as walking, cycling, public transport and car share for the journey to school. The School Travel Plan is co-ordinated by the County Council.
In addition to this initiative, Horsham District Council regularly monitors air quality at nine monitoring sites throughout the Horsham District.
Further information about air quality and pollution is available from Horsham District Council online, by calling on 01403 215292 or by email: publichealth.licensing@horsham.gov.uk
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CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk