The Air Quality Standards (Wales) Regulations 2010

Regulations 13, 15, 20(1), (2), (4) and (5), 21(5), 23(1) and 24(2)

SCHEDULE 1 Limit values

Sulphur dioxide

Averaging period	Limit value
One hour	350 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 24 times a calendar year
One day	125 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 3 times a calendar year

Nitrogen dioxide

Averaging period	Limit value
One hour	200 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 18 times a calendar year
Calendar year	40 μg/m3

Benzene

Averaging period	Limit value
Calendar year	5 μg/m3

Carbon monoxide

Averaging period	Limit value
Maximum daily eight hour mean(1)	10 mg/m3

Lead

Averaging period	Limit value
Calendar year	0.5 μg/m3

PM₁₀

Averaging period	Limit value
One day	50 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a calendar year
Calendar year	40 μg/m3

PM_2·5

Averaging period	Limit value	Margin of tolerance	Date by which limit value is to be met
Calendar year	25 μg/m3	20% on 11 June 2008, decreasing on the next 1 January and every 12 months thereafter by equal annual percentages to reach 0% by 1 January 2015	1 January 2015

Regulations 14, 20(1) and (3), 21(5), 23(1) and, 24(2)

SCHEULE 2 Target values

Arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene

Pollutant	Target value for the total content in the PM10 fraction averaged over a calendar year	Date by which target value should be met
Arsenic	6 ng/m3	31 December 2012
Cadmium	5 ng/m3	31 December 2012
Nickel	20 ng/m3	31 December 2012
Benzo(a)pyrene	1 ng/m3	31 December 2012

Ozone

Objective	Averaging period	Target value
Protection of human health	Maximum daily eight hour mean(2)	120 μg/m3, not to be exceeded on more than 25 days per calendar year averaged over three years(3)
Protection of vegetation	May to July	AOT 40 (calculated from 1h values) 18,000 μg/m3 · h averaged over five years(3)

PM_2·5

Averaging period	Target value
Calendar year	25 μg/m3

Regulations 8(2), 16, 23(1), 24(2)

SCHEDULE 3 Long-term objectives for ozone

Objective	Averaging period	Long-term objective	Date by which long-term objective should be met
Protection of human health	Maximum daily eight hour mean within a calendar year	120 μg/m3	Not defined
Protection of vegetation	May to July	AOT 40 (calculated from 1h values) 6000 μg/m3 · h	Not defined

Regulations 17, 21(1) and (3), 23(1) and 24(2)

SCHEDULE 4 Information and alert thresholds

Alert thresholds for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide

Pollutant	Alert threshold(4)
Sulphur dioxide	500 μg/m3
Nitrogen dioxide	400 μg/m3

Information and alert thresholds for ozone

Purpose	Averaging period	Threshold
Information	1 hour	180 μg/m3
Alert	1 hour	240 μg/m3

Regulations 18 and 23(1)

SCHEDULE 5 Critical levels for the protection of vegetation

Sulphur dioxide

Averaging period	Critical level
Calendar year and winter (1 October to 31 March)	20 μg/m3

Oxides of nitrogen

Averaging period	Critical level
Calendar year	30 μg/m3 NOx

Regulation 20(6)

SCHEDULE 6 Information to be included in air quality plans

1.  Location of excess pollution—

(a) region;

(b) city (map); and

(c) measuring station (map, geographical co-ordinates).

2.  General information—

(a) type of zone (city, industrial or rural area);

(b) estimate of the polluted area (km²) and of the population exposed to the pollution;

(c) useful climatic data;

(d) relevant data on topography; and

(e) sufficient information on the type of targets requiring protection in the zone.

3.  Responsible authorities (names and addresses of persons responsible for the development and implementation of air quality plans).

4.  Nature and assessment of pollution—

(a) concentrations observed over previous years (before the implementation of the improvement measures);

(b) concentrations measured since the beginning of the project; and

(c) techniques used for the assessment.

5.  Origin of pollution—

(a) list of the main emission sources responsible for the pollution (map);

(b) total quantity of emissions from these sources (tonnes per year); and

(c) information on pollution imported from other regions.

6.  Analysis of the situation—

(a) details of those factors responsible for the exceedance of the limit value or target value; and

(b) details of possible measures for the improvement of air quality.

7.  Details of those measures or projects for improvement which existed prior to 11 June 2008—

(a) local, regional, national and international measures; and

(b) observed effects of those measures.

8.  Details of those measures or projects adopted with a view to reducing pollution following 11 June 2008—

(a) list and description of all the measures set out in the project;

(b) timetable for implementation; and

(c) estimate of the improvement of air quality planned and of the expected time required to attain these objectives.

9.  Details of the measures or projects planned or being researched for the long term.

10.  List of the publications, documents and work etc. used to supplement information required by this Schedule.

Regulation 23(2)

SCHEDULE 7 Public information in relation to alert and information thresholds for nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone

1.  In cases where either the information or the alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide or ozone in Schedule 4 is exceeded the details set out in paragraphs 3 to 6, as a minimum, must be made available to the public.

2.  In cases where either the information or the alert threshold for one of those pollutants in Schedule 4 is predicted to be exceeded, the information set out in paragraphs 3 to 6 must be provided where practicable, as though references to exceedances in those paragraphs were references to predicted exceedances.

3.  Information on any incident where information or alert thresholds have been exceeded—

(a) the location or area where thresholds have been exceeded;

(b) the type of threshold exceeded (information or alert threshold);

(c) the time at which the threshold was exceeded and the duration of the incident; and

(d) in the case of ozone, the highest one hour and eight hour concentration.

4.  Forecast for the following afternoon, day and days—

(a) the geographical area in which it is expected that an information or alert threshold will be exceeded; and

(b) the expected change in pollution, that is, improvement, stabilisation or deterioration, and the reasons for that change.

5.  Information on the type of population concerned, possible health effects and recommended conduct, in particular—

(a) information on the population groups at risk;

(b) description of likely symptoms;

(c) recommended precautions to be taken by the population concerned; and

(d) where to find further information.

6.  Information on the following additional matters–

(a) information on preventive action to reduce pollution or exposure to it;

(b) an indication of the main source sectors; and

(c) recommendations for action to reduce emissions.

(1)

The maximum daily eight hour mean concentration of carbon monoxide must be selected by examining eight hour running averages, calculated from hourly data and updated each hour. Each eight hour average so calculated must be assigned to the day on which it ends, that is, the first calculation period for any one day will be from 17:00 on the previous day to 01:00 on that day, and the last calculation period for any one day will be the period from 16:00 to 24:00 on that day.

(2)

The maximum daily eight hour mean concentration must be selected by examining eight hour running averages, calculated from hourly data and updated each hour. Each eight hour average so calculated must be assigned to the day on which it ends, that is, the first calculation period for any one day will be the period from 17:00 on the previous day to 01:00 on that day, and the last calculation period for any one day must be the period from 16:00 to 24:00 on that day.

(3)

If the three or five year averages cannot be determined on the basis of a full and consecutive set of annual data, the minimum annual data required for checking compliance with the target values will be valid data for one year in relation to the target value for the protection of human health and valid data for three years in relation to the target value for the protection of vegetation.

(4)

To be measured over three consecutive hours at locations representative of air quality over at least 100 km² or an entire zone, whichever is smaller.