At the meeting on 20 January 2015, the Scrutiny Committee considered a report from Public Health England on the link between mortality and air pollution, and resolved that “the Director of Public Health be requested to submit a report to a future meeting on the impact of particulate air pollution on health and mortality in Stockport”.
Representative of Public Health, Environment Health and Transportation Policy will attend the meeting to provide an ‘expert panel’ to respond to questions from the Committee on air pollution and health.
Minutes:
At the meeting on 20 January 2015, the Scrutiny Committee considered a report from Public Health England on the link between mortality and air pollution, and resolved that “the Director of Public Health be requested to submit a report to a future meeting on the impact of particulate air pollution on health and mortality in Stockport”.
Donna Sager (Deputy Director of Public Health), Ian O’Donnell (Head of Public Protection) and Sue Stevenson (Investing in Growth Manager) attended the meeting to provide an ‘expert panel’ to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee on air pollution and health.
The ‘Panel’ provided some additional background information to inform the discussion. This included:-
· There had been significant improvements in air quality in the UK during the last century, due to a range of legislative changes; changes in fuel usage and changes/ reductions in industrial processes.
· Air pollution impacted mortality and morbidity, particularly in relation to respiratory factors and impacted most those who were young, old and those with complex conditions.
· Transportation now contributed the greatest proportion of particulates that made up air pollution. Nationally there had been action to improve engine and fuel quality, although uncertainty remained about the impact of these changes. Efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from vehicles lead to an increase use of diesel that had a negative impact on air pollution because of the particulates released by its use.
· There was a national Air Quality Strategy, published in March 2011 that set out air quality objectives and policy options to further improve air quality in the UK. As well as direct benefits to public health, these options were intended to provide important benefits to quality of life and help to protect the environment.
· There was a local and Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan that was based on predictive modelling of air pollution, and sought to arrest the increase in particulate levels.
· Locally, the Council participated in work at a Greater Manchester level to improve air quality, most notably through work to improve transport links, particularly public transport and alternatives modes of travel such as cycling and walking. Reducing congestion would reduce the emissions from cars and other motor vehicles.
· The Public Protection Service was involved in a range of activities to ensure air pollution was minimised, including the monitoring of economic and industrial activities; taxi vehicles and air quality monitoring. Stockport monitored Nitrogen Oxide levels at various sites, and there was a ‘real time’ monitoring station in Hazel Grove on the A6, data from which was available at www.greaterairmanchester.org.uk.
· Overall, levels of air pollution in Stockport were comparable to the levels in other parts of Greater Manchester.
· Following the fire at the ‘Junction 25’ Recycling Centre in Bredbury in August 2013 the Council and other partners put in additional air quality monitoring in the vicinity.
Councillors asked questions and made comments. The issues raised included:-
· The reduction in industrial activity and emissions and the increase in transportation emissions had changed the pattern of air pollution, which was now concentrated in areas that mapped onto the road network. There was a high concentration of particulates within 10 metres of a busy road, but this halved for every 10 metres further from the road, and varied depending on levels of congestion. Vehicles stopping and starting, and drivers idling their engines would cause particulate levels to increase. Traffic congestion was often worst along built up residential areas and near schools where houses were within 10 metres of the road. The effect would be intensified in confined streets or environments.
· In comparison to road traffic, particulate levels from aircraft were of marginal impact to overall air quality. Even in Stockport where air craft were descending the relative height and speed of the aircraft meant that particulates were dispersed relatively quickly so as to minimise the impact on air quality in any given location. Nevertheless, the Council had regular meeting with Manchester Airport to ensure that measures were in place to address air quality.
· Unpleasant odours from businesses and residential properties were rarely an air quality concern, but would be considered under statutory nuisance legislation.
· Concerns were expressed about the recently agreed Town Centre Access Package in relation to air quality as the package included building new roads and widening existing roads, some of which would be in built up areas and would have a ‘canyon’ effect. Similarly, the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road scheme would also include features that might lead to a concentration of particulates. In response to these concerns it was commented that both road schemes had been subject to an assessment of air quality and overall air quality was predicted to improve as a result of the additional road capacity. This was due in part to the increased capacity of the roads lessening congestion and thereby reducing emissions. Additional mitigating measures would be introduced.
· The gathering of air quality data for specific locations was lengthy and expensive and there were no cost-effective ways of gathering real time data, therefore most analysis of air quality and likely air pollution was based on modelling developed following large scale studies.
· The Council’s involvement with the Local Transport Plan and SEMMMS was to encourage alternative modes of transport, as well as improving the efficiency of the road network and increasing capacity where appropriate. Both elements needed to be developed together if the negative environmental impact of motor vehicles was to be mitigated.
· Recent road modifications on London Road in Poynton had resulted in significant changes in traffic patterns and reductions in congestion and may be a useful model for schemes in Stockport. Clarification had been sought from Cheshire East Council on the air quality analysis, but caution was needed as anecdotal evidence suggested that traffic may have been displaced along other routes.
· The Public Health England report ‘Estimating Local Mortality Burdens associated with Particulate Air Pollution’ provided an analysis of mortality caused by particulates (anthropogenic or human-made) and gave figures by local authorities. The report suggested that although Stockport had the joint 4th highest level of mean anthropogenic particulates in Greater Manchester, it had the 3rd highest level of attributable deaths of over 25 year olds and the 2nd highest level of associated life-years lost.
The Scrutiny Committee discussed possible future work relating to air quality and recognised that the limitation in technology meant that local testing would not be feasible. It was suggested that the data could be provided to the Scrutiny Committee on asthma rates and postcodes.
RESOLVED – (1) That Donna Sager, Ian O’Donnell and Sue Stevenson be thanked for their attendance and participation.
(2) That the Director of Public Health be requested to submit a report to a future meeting providing an analysis of asthma prevalence by postcode.