Ambient air quality
Good air quality is essential for a good quality of life and for
achieving the goal of sustainable development. The quality of the
air we breathe can be altered by substances released through human
activity and natural processes. These include oxides of nitrogen
(NOX), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulates
(PM10and PM2.5), ground level ozone
(O3), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia
(NH3). When released to the air in
sufficient quantities, these substances can cause deterioration in
human health, acidification and eutrophication of habitats,
oxidative damage and nuisance.
Air quality is affected by the emission of
pollutants to air and the dispersion, reaction and deposition of
the substances emitted. These substances have different impacts on
our health and the environment. These can be direct impacts or can
be the result of pollutants reacting together.
In order to protect ambient air quality a variety of policy
instruments have been introduced at an International, European
Union (EU) and United Kingdom level.