Air quality monitoring

We are determined to ensure everyone can live in a healthy, clean and attractive environment. Improving the quality of air we breathe is key to achieving this.

London has the worst quality air in the UK, and while heavy smogs are thankfully a thing of the past, there are other, often invisible, pollution problems that we are addressing.

We are focused on improving air quality for local people. We are doing this by controlling the eight key pollutants in the atmosphere known to harm human health. The most significant of which locally are oxides of nitrogen and particulates less than 10 microns in size.

Continuous monitoring

We have continuous air quality monitoring stations at Chalgrove School and Tally Ho Corner.

The stations monitor levels of fine particles (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). These measurements support the ongoing review and assessment of air quality in the borough.

Quality assurance and quality control of the data is carried out by Ricardo-AEA. They do this for many London Boroughs and local authorities and the current monitoring data is available on the Air Quality England website

Diffusion tube survey 

This involves monitoring monthly nitrogen dioxide levels at 15 locations across the borough to give a broad overview of nitrogen dioxide levels. Diffusion tubes are not as accurate as the continuous monitoring stations, but provide good information on air pollution trends over time. This also supports the ongoing review and assessment of air quality.  Data can be found in the reports below:

For information about this monitoring and air quality monitoring across the UK visit the government's air quality website

Contact

Barnet Scientific Services

2 Bristol Avenue
Colindale NW9 4EW

Tel: 020 8359 7995
Email scientificservices@barnet.gov.uk