New air quality monitoring station opens in Southwark

Members of the public will now be able to benefit from up-to-date and accurate information on the quality of the air in Southwark, after the unveiling of a new air quality monitoring station.  

The station is now up and running on the Old Kent Road and the facility will provide vital information on the level of pollution in the air at any given time.  

Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling at Southwark Council, said:  

"We made it one of our key promises to open two air quality monitoring stations in the borough and I'm really glad to have the first one up and running. People living, working, studying and visiting the borough all deserve the cleanest air possible, and it's only by keeping a watchful eye on pollution levels that we can do this effectively."  

Exhaust fumes and chimneys all contribute to the widespread pollution problems in the capital, and it's vital that each borough plays its part in helping monitor the extent of the problem.  

In central London , nitrogen dioxide levels routinely exceed EU limits by as much as two or three times.  

It's also estimated that air pollution contributes to over 4,000 deaths in Greater London every year, according to research commissioned by the GLA.  

The Old Kent Road station is the first of two in the borough to go live, with another at the Elephant and Castle set to open in March 2011. Members of the public worried about pollution, or with health problems worsened by pollution, can benefit from the information that these stations provide.  

The data will be available hourly on the LondonAir website and via the LondonAir iphone application. Measurements will also contribute to the UK national monitoring.  

Dr Gary Fuller, from the Environmental Research Group at King's College London, said: 

"Traffic is a key source of air pollution in London . By monitoring close to the source itself we can ensure that actions to reduce the health burden of air pollution in London , are actually working." 

Notes to editors 

• Air pollution monitoring can help us understand how pollutants behave and their relationship with the weather.
• National and European legislation requires the monitoring of pollution levels. Results can be used to make informed policy decisions.
• Members of the public benefit from easily available, accurate and up to date information on the quality of the air they breathe.

The Government's National Air Quality Strategy makes it the responsibility of local authorities to use monitoring information to assess air quality and to work towards the attainment of European Air Quality Standards. 

For more information on the London Air Quality Network (LondonAir) please visit

www.londonair.org.uk

The LondonAir Quality Network is managed and operated by King's College London on behalf of London 's local authorities.  

Read more information on the council's work on air pollution