Air Quality
Local air quality is importance to us all. Whilst the operation of aircraft is our most obvious source of emissions to air other key sources include the operation of cars, vans and buses to service the aircraft and those journeys, primarily by car, to and from the airport site made by passengers and staff.
In order to monitor, assess and manage air quality, the Government has published an Air Quality Strategy and in conjunction with North West Leicester District Council, we ensure that emissions from the airport are continuously monitored.
Our Policy
Our environmental policy commits us to:
- Develop a Surface Access Strategy that promotes a modal change away from the private car to less environmentally damaging forms of travel.
- Adopt operational practices that seek to minimise the polluting emissions from Airport operations.
- Undertake regular monitoring for key pollutants, within the wider context of the Air Quality Strategy for England and Wales to contribute to the control of local air quality.
- Make publicly available the results of air quality monitoring.
Our Programmes
Our Surface Access Strategy was first published in 2001. In implementing our strategy we were pleased to announce the introduction of the Skylink service, an express service to Nottingham part funded by the airport, shortly after. In recent years we have extended the number of services that link with Airport so that high quality bus connections now exist to Leicester, Derby and Coalville too. We continue to make substantial investments in public transport improvements and to promote the use of other transport modes including car share, cycling and walking.
Many of the vehicles that operate on the airport do not operate on the public highway and hence do not require MOT testing. As part of our environmental policy all vehicles operating on the airport site are required to pass an annual emissions test and in addition the airport operates a programme of randomly testing the emissions from vehicles. Any vehicle failing an emissions test is withdrawn from service.
The way in which we control aircraft whilst they are on the ground can significantly affect the resulting emissions and therefore we adopt rigorous air traffic control measures to ensure that emissions to air are minimised. This can include aircraft undertaking taxi manoeuvres using just one engine.
In conjunction with North West Leicestershire District Council, the airport monitors air quality on and around the airport site to ensure that air quality remains below all of the guideline values within the Air Quality Strategy. In common with other transport modes, including road traffic, the pollutants of greatest concern at airports are oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and benzene.
Nitrogen Dioxide
High temperature combustion in air gives rise to a complex mixture of oxides of nitrogen. Nitrogen dioxide is a respiratory irritant that can exacerbate the symptoms suffered by sufferers of asthma or other respiratory difficulties. In order to safeguard health the Air Quality Strategy establishes a limit for nitrogen dioxide. The primary source of nitrogen dioxide is road transport, which is estimated to account for 43% of emissions. At the airport nitrogen dioxide will be generated by both aircraft and road vehicles operating on and around the airfield. Monitoring undertaken at the Airport shows that levels are relatively modest.
Nitrogen dioxide monitoring - October 2009
Particulates
There are a range of particles in the air that that we breathe, larger particles that are visible as dust and smaller particles, which whilst they are invisible to the naked eye can be inhaled deep into the lungs. These particles can cause inflammation which in turn can lead to a worsening in the condition of people with heart and lung conditions.
The Air Quality Strategy focuses on these very fine particulates. Specifically the Strategy sets a standard for those particles that are 10 micro metres or less and also a standard for those particles that are 2.5 micro metres or less. The primary sources of these very fine particulates are road transport, particularly diesel vehicles and stationary combustion plant, particularly the burning of coal. Monitoring undertaken at the Airport shows that levels are low.
Particulate matter monitoring - N/A
Benzene
Benzene is a hydrocarbon compound that is present in petroleum products. The primary source of benzene is the evaporation and combustion of petroleum fuels and it is estimated that 33% of total benzene emissions arise from the road transport sector making it the single largest source. Benzene is present in aviation fuels and the operation of aircraft and vehicles at the Airport all contribute to the ambient concentration of benzene. As benzene is known to be both toxic and a carcinogen the Air Quality Strategy establishes a very stringent target to safeguard health. Monitoring undertaken at the airport shows that levels are relatively low.
Benzene monitoring October 2009
In order to place air quality levels in context, it can be helpful to compare the airport’s monitored levels with other areas in surrounding towns and villages. We’ve provided two very useful links. The first is for North West Leicestershire District Council, which undertakes further air quality monitoring and assessment in areas around the airport. The second link provides information on a network of monitoring stations around the UK .
