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Gloucestershire Air Quality

There are many different types of air pollutants. The main ones we measure in Gloucestershire are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM). 

Nitrogen dioxide
The combustion of fossil fuel is the biggest source of NO2 and includes diesel and petrol vehicles, gas boilers and power stations. In Gloucestershire, transport is our biggest emitter, and we often see the highest levels of NO2 are by busy roads.

Particulate matter
PM comes from both natural and man-made sources. Natural sources include sea spray, pollen and soil. However, more than half of the UK's PM concentrations are from man-made sources including domestic burning (e.g. wood burning) and from tyre, road and brake wear from vehicles, including electric vehicles. 

Did you know? Wood burning is thought to be the main source of PM2.5 in the home and is recognised as the most polluting form of home heating. Modern/eco stoves lessen, but do not eliminate emissions also.

Gloucestershire Air Quality Data

The district, borough and city councils are required to monitor NO2 and primarily do so via diffusion tubes to provide monthly averages. A map showing Gloucestershire NO2 monitoring locations and readings is available here: Air Quality Monitor Dashboard | Gloucestershire County Council. Hover over the monitoring points for more information.

Gloucestershire also benefits from PurpleAir sensors. These are hosted largely by parish councils, businesses and schools, however Gloucestershire County Council do have some available to deploy and we have previously provided funding opportunities for their purchase. They are typically not included in local authority air quality data reporting as they do not meet monitoring thresholds set by DEFRA, but are a valuable tool to provide indicative air quality data.

If you would like a PurpleAir sensor, please email glosair@gloucestershire.gov.uk. If you are a school, please visit: https://gloucestershire.gov.uk/schoolspollutionproject.  

You can also see postcode specific air quality information, including health advice from DEFRA here: Check air quality - GOV.UK.

For individual district, city and borough council air quality information, please visit their webpages.