National air quality report
SEPA's national air quality report provides information on
emission levels of key pollutants and ambient air quality
monitoring data obtained from sites within Scotland, as well as the
actions SEPA is undertaking to improve air quality. The
pollutants considered in this report are:
- Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
- Oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
- Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)
- Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC)
- Ground-level ozone (O3)
- Ammonia (NH3)
- Greenhouse gases [Carbon dioxide (CO2) and Methane
(CH4)]
- SEPA's
national air quality report 2007
(1.55mb)
The global perspective on air quality issues such as climate
change and depletion of the high-level (stratospheric) ozone are
not considered in this report. However, climate change is discussed
within the latest State of Scotland's Environment Report, published
in October 2006, along with other environmental issues relating to
air quality:
Data held within the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI)
indicates that in Scotland industrial emissions of pollutants are
greatest to the east of central Scotland. Emissions of air
pollutants from industry are generally declining, although recent
increases in the price of gas have resulted in an increased use of
cheaper fuels such as heavy fuel oil and coal at some industrial
sites. This is likely to cause an increase in SO2 and NOx
emissions. There is no evidence to show that emissions of PM10 from
large industrial sites in Scotland have resulted in exceedances of
air quality objectives, although road traffic and coal-fired
domestic heating do have the potential to cause localised problems.
Carbon dioxide emissions from regulated industries in Scotland
have increased by 10% from 2005 to 2006. The largest industrial
sources of CO2 emissions in Scotland are from power stations, with
Cockenzie and Longannet Power Stations accounting for approximately
half the emissions from industrial sources across Scotland.