Air quality public portal launches

NEWS RELEASE

A public portal providing on-demand air quality data from across Blaby District is now active. The portal allows residents to view real-time air quality levels for both nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.

It is the culmination of work begun in 2022 as part of a project, Particulates Matter, funded through a £151,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The initial stages of the project involved installing specialist monitoring equipment called Zephyrs in locations across the District, mainly on land either owned by the Council or a Parish Council.

This included Cosby, Croft, Huncote, Narborough, Enderby, Glen Parva, Braunstone Town and Leicester Forest East.

The Zephyrs track levels of nitrogen dioxide (associated with road traffic) and particulate matter. Particulate matter is made up of very fine particles, smaller than the width of a human hair, which can be harmful to health when inhaled. Sources of particulate matter include brake pads, tyres, wood burning and industrial emissions.

Information collected by the Zephyrs is now public thanks to the portal, purchased by Public Health at Leicestershire County Council.

Residents can access the portal via the Blaby District Council air quality page here: Air Quality – Blaby District Council

The real-time information enables residents to make informed decisions about daily activities, helping those who may be more vulnerable health-wise. It also aims to raise awareness and encourage proactive efforts to reduce potentially harmful air pollutants.

Councillor Les Phillimore, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, said: "It's brilliant to see the data portal now up and running. Making the monitoring data available online is a huge step in ensuring people can check air quality levels locally and is also an essential part of the Particulates Matter project.

"As a District Council we have a responsibility to measure the quality of air for our residents to ensure it meets required standards for certain pollutants. We are tasked with taking action if levels are too high. Now having this portal with information in real-time means residents themselves can make their own decisions on behaviour and activities, contributing toward the improvement of air quality in their own area. Thanks to our teams and our partners including Leicestershire County Council Public Health for delivering this project."