Pollution and air quality

Background information

Air pollution is linked to serious health conditions, including:

• Heart disease
• Lung conditions
• Asthma

Over recent decades, public health in England has significantly improved as a result of tighter controls on emissions from industry and other sources of pollution. The introduction of modern environmental and workplace regulations has reduced levels of harmful pollutants, contributing to longer life expectancy and fewer pollution-related illnesses. These improvements have been achieved through a coordinated system of tighter emission controls and the introduction of national air quality standards, combined with monitoring to ensure both the public and workers are better protected from the effects of air pollution.

How is our air kept safe from industrial emissions?

Clean air is essential for good health. In England, air quality is protected through a set of national laws and local responsibilities that work together. These key legal frameworks interact to protect the environment and community.

1. Controlling emissions at source.

The Environmental Permitting Regulations require industrial and commercial operators to limit emissions to air and to meet standards imposed by the Government. Permits are issued and regulated by the Environment Agency or local authorities

2. Workers’ health and safety in the workplace.

Health and Safety legislation, including Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and Workplace Exposure Limits, protects employees exposed to harmful substances. Employers must assess risks and implement controls to reduce exposure. This protects people working in environments where pollutant exposure may be higher.

3.  Air quality monitoring and assessment.

Under the Environment Act 1995 (Part IV), local authorities monitor air quality across their areas to ensure the standards set by government in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 are met. This identifies whether air quality is safe for the public. For live monitoring data, visit our air quality website

4. Air quality improvement.

Where legal limits are exceeded, local authorities must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). Air Quality Action Plans are developed to reduce pollution. This ensures coordinated action to improve air quality in affected areas.

5. Tackling localised pollution problems.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (statutory nuisance) allows councils to investigate complaints about smoke, dust, fumes, and odour. Where necessary, abatement notices are issued to stop or reduce emissions. This provides a quicker, targeted response to issues affecting individuals or neighbourhoods.

6.  Continuous Improvement and accountability

The Environment Act 2021 builds on existing legislation by requiring continuous improvement in air quality and increasing accountability at a national level.

7.  Preventing Future Air Quality Impacts (Planning)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ensures air quality is considered in new development. Local Planning Authorities ensure new developments do not worsen air quality or undermine national objectives.

In Summary

Air quality is protected through a layered approach:

• Standards are set nationally
• Conditions are monitored locally
• Action is taken where needed
• Targets are tightened over time

These laws ensure the air we breathe is protected now and for future.

How do we know what is being released into the air locally?

The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) is the UK’s official database of air pollutant emissions. It provides detailed information on how much pollution is released into the air each year, and where that pollution comes from. The NAEI supports air quality management by:

• Informing government policy and national targets
• Helping local authorities understand sources of pollution in their area
• Providing data for air quality modelling and assessments
• Supporting compliance with international reporting obligations

Could these local emissions be prejudicial to health?

There are a number of industrial hubs located in the borough and most notably in Ellesmere Port Stanlow Industrial Complex where heavy industry has been a key feature for over a century.

The Stanlow Industrial Complex comprises a number of industrial operators offering a range of products. The oil refinery, which manufactures petrochemicals, is the largest manufacturer.

Similar to national trends over the past twenty years, local emissions to air have reduced markedly. This trend reflects tighter regulatory controls, improvements in process efficiency, leak detection, fuel switching, and adoption of best available techniques. Key pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) have declined across most industrial sectors.

Emissions from the Stanlow Industrial Complex are dominated by the oil refinery which releases a range of pollutants mainly from:

• Burning fuels (combustion) – Nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter.
• Processing crude oil - Nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter.
• Storing and transferring fuels – Non Methan Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOCs), Benzene, 1,3 butadiene.

Table listing the main air pollutants from oil refinery

Have these pollutants been assessed to ensure they present no health risk to surrounding communities?

Yes. Under the Environment Act 1995 (Part IV), the Council has undertaken systematic monitoring of all of the above-mentioned pollutants with the exception of NMVOCs . Of the measured pollutants, only sulphur dioxide was identified at unacceptable levels at Thornton-le-Moors and further information is available online .

The reason why oil refinery NMVOC emissions are not subject to assessment is that they are dominated by low-toxicity compounds. The focus therefore is on the individual highly toxic NMVOCs like benzene and 1,3 butadiene which are present in smaller amounts. Benzene and 1,3 butadiene were assessed by the former Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council and Chester City Council. They undertook monitoring to ensure that ambient levels in air in villages like Elton and Ince as well as Ellesmere Port, complied with the Air Quality Standards Regulations. Monitoring of 1,3 butadiene ended in 2002 whilst monitoring of benzene ended in 2012.

What if emission levels have changed since they were assessed?

Emission levels have changed since they were monitored and assessed. Benzene and 1,3 butadiene emissions have reduced significantly since they were last monitored by the Council. For example, benzene emissions have decreased by ~70% over two decades due to stricter fuel composition standards and the adoption of Best Available Techniques for tank sealing and pumping, vapour recovery and the implementation of advanced infrared leak detection frameworks. This provides confidence that our conclusion that benzene and 1,3 butadiene levels in ambient air do not exceed national air quality standards, remains valid today.

Could releases of NMVOCs (excluding BTEX and 1,3 butadiene) be prejudicial to health?

In theory, yes - a mixture of NMVOCs could be prejudicial to health if:

• Exposure levels are sufficiently high
• There is credible evidence of toxic or harmful effects

However, as other NMVOCs are considerably less toxic by comparison with benzene and 1,3 butadiene, and releases of benzene and 1,3 butadiene have been fully assessed at far higher emission levels than are present now and are known to be at a safe level, it is therefore unlikely that such emissions could be prejudicial to health.

Summary

The Council has fully implemented its duty under part IV of the Environment Act 1995. This, combined with the implementation and enforcement of other related legislation by partner Agencies, provides a high degree of confidence that industrial emissions to air are not prejudicial to health for residents.

Enquiries

If there are any enquiries, please contact environmentalprotection@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk