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City of Edinburgh Council

Air Quality Objectives

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An objective is a standard which is to be achieved in a set time scale.

These objectives are applied where people are likely to be regularly present. For example along a busy road it is appropriate to measure concentrations at a building façade of a residential property. It is generally accepted that the concentration at the façade will be similar to that inside the building.

Pollutant

Objective

 
Date to be achieved by
 

Concentration

(micro grammes per meter cubed)

Measured as

 

Benzene

3.25

Running annual mean

31 December 2010

1,3-Butadiene

2.25

Running annual mean

31 December 2003

Carbon Monoxide

10

Running 8-hour mean

31 December 2003

Lead

0.5

Annual mean

31 December 2004

0.25

Annual mean

31 December 2008

Nitrogen Dioxide

200 not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year

1-hour mean

31 December 2005

40

Annual mean

31 December 2005

Particles (PM10)

50 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year

24-hour mean

31 December 2004

40

Annual mean

31 December 2004

50 not to be exceeded more than 7 times a year

24 hour mean

31 December 2010

18

Annual mean

31 December 2010

Sulphur dioxide

350 not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year

1-hour mean

31 December 2004

125 not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year

24-hour mean

31 December 2004

266 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year

15-minute mean

31 December 2005


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